Sri Dalada Maligawa
The most sacred place of Buddhist worship in Sri Lanka and perhaps the world's most sacred Buddhist shrine venerated by millions of the Buddhists all over the world, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic or Sri Dalada Maligawa is a monumental palace built in the heart of the city of Kandy to house the sacred relic of the tooth of Gautama Buddha, brought from Kalinga (Orissa) in India during the reign of Sri Meghavanna (310-28).
The sacred relic of the tooth was taken from the funeral pyre of Gautama Buddha in 483 BC. Later on, the princess Hemamali with her husband prince Danta smuggled it into Sri Lanka hidden in her hair on the instructions of her father Guhasiva during 4th century AD and it was first enshrined in Isurumuniya Temple in Anuradhapura, the first established kingdom in ancient Sri Lanka. Then it moved through a number of kingdoms across the country from time to time and at the end it was brought to Kandy by Hiripitiye
Diyawadana Rala and Devanagala Ratnalankara Thera, during the reign of King Wimaladharmasuriya I (1591-1604) who built a two-storey building to place the sacred relic of tooth. After that, it was improved by various kings who ruled the Kandyan Kingdom and the last improvement was done by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinha (1798-1815) who added the octagonal Pattirippuwa and the moat. The famous Kandyan architect Devandra Mulacharin is credited with building the Pattirippuwa.
When it comes to architecture, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and the Palatial Complex depict the architectural marvels of ancient Sri Lanka. The present grander edifice has been built upon a granite substructure. In addition to granite, a wide variety of materials were used for this extraordinarily rich building: limestone, marble, sculpted wood, terracotta, metal and ivory. The painted decorations vie with the sculpted decor, and include purely decorative motifs as well as different series of figures (dancers, acrobats, animals) on the beams and ceilings.
Kandy Esala Perahera (Sri Dalada Perahera) is the grandest religious and cultural event held annually by Dalada Maligawa to honour the Sacred Tooth Relic. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) together with Malwatte and Asgiriya Maha Viharas (temples) has been playing a tremendous role towards the sustenance of the world's greatest teaching- Buddhism- and Sri Lanka's Buddhist culture flourishing over 2500 years.
(The shrine is open daily for public 0530hrs- 2000hrs/Entrance per head, for SAARC/Photography allowed on permission of the Media Unit/Daily Tewawa (service) @0530hrs, 0930hrs & 1830hrs/Visitors be decently clad, unshod and heads uncovered).
