Kindom of Kandy

                               Sri Dalada Maligawa

Kandy was the capital of the Sinhalese Kings from 1592 to 1815. Fortified by a terrain of mountains and the difficult approach Kandy managed to operate in independence from Dutch, Portuguese and the English till 1815. The city is a world heritage site declared by UNESCO, in part due to this temple.

The Sri Dalada Maligawa or The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a temple in the city of Kandy in Sri Lanka. It was built within the royal palace complex which houses the one of the two surviving relic of the tooth of Buddha, an object of veneration for Buddhists. The other tooth relic is believed to be enshrined in a stupa called Somawathi Chetya.

The Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy, the temple which houses the Sacred Tooth Relic of The Buddha, is possibly the most sacred Buddhist shrine in the world. It is venerated not only by Buddhists in Sri Lanka but by Buddhists all over the world.

King Wimaladharmasuriya I (1592 - 1603), the first to select Kandy as the ruling capital originally built a two storied Temple for the Relic and brought the tooth relic from Delgamuwa near Kuruwita in Sabaragamuwa which has been hidden for protection. Remains of this temple no longer exist. Wimaladharmasuriya II (1686 - 1706) built a three storied temple and his son king Viraparakrama Narendrasinha (1706 - 1738), the last Sinhalese king to rule the country, built a new two storied temple temple seeing that the old temple built by his father has decayed. The last king of Sri lanka, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe (1797 - 1814) built the Pattirippuwa (the Octagon). Originally, the Pattirippuwa (octagon) was part of the royal palace. It was used by the king to address his follow countrymen. Today the Pattirippuwa has become a part of the temple and houses ancient textures written in ola leaves.

The entrance to the temple complex is through the "Maha Vahalkada". There are two walls on the sides of the "Vahalkada". The outer wall is called "Walakulu Bamma" (wall of clouds). This same pattern is also used in the wall surrounding the Kandy lake. The inner wall is called "Diyareli Bamma" (wall of water ripples). Both these walls are built with holes to place oil lanterns during the night.

After passing the "Vahalkada" and the moat, you come to a "Makara Thorana". Next is the tunnel "ambarawa". Passing this you come to the ground floor of the temple complex. The lower floor of the building called "pallemaluwa". This inner chamber is fortified with a large wooden door and decorated with bronze and ivory. The area in front of the door is called the "Hevisi Mandapaya" (Drummers Courtyard) where the daily rituals are carried out.

The tooth relic is kept in the upper floor in the chamber called "Vadahitina Maligawa" The door ot this chamber is covered with gold silver and ivory. The tooth relic is encased in seven gold caskets studded with precious stones. The outer casket is studded by precious stones offered to the tooth relic by various rulers.

On the right to the relic is the "Perahara Karanduwa" (relic chamber used in the annual Asala Mangalaya peraharaprocession) kept inside a bullet proof glass display. This has been donated by India. Over the relic chamber there is a golden lotus flower studded with precious stones hanging from the ceiling. In respect of the reliability, the account of the perahera held on the August 19, 1817 given to the British Governor of Ceylon by Millawa Disawe (chieftain) of Vellassa region and appearing in the Government Gazette of the September 13, 1817 is more authentic. This account begins with reference to the preliminary ritualistic practice-erection of sacred poles (Kap) - and is followed by a description of the whole procession.

The Buddhist priests of the Maligawa bring to the gate of their temple the dhatukaranduwa and place it in the ranhilige on the back of an elephant, who remains at the gate. In the meantime the procession moves from the gate of the Maligawa, where the Relic of the Buddha is waiting.

The procession is as follows:

1.   The King’s elephants with gajanayake.

2.   Gingals with Kodituwakku Lekam.

3.   The people of the Four Korales, Disavane, carrying gingals, muskets and flags with the disava and petty chiefs of that Disavane.

4.   The people of the Seven Korales.

5.   These of Uva.

6.   Of Matale.

7.   Of Sabaragamuwa.

8.   Of Valapane.

9.   Of Udapalatha.

10.                     The bamboos or images representing devils covered with cloths.

11.                     The elephant of the Maligawa bearing the shrine followed by other elephants and the people of the Maligawa who precede the Diyavadana Nilame and Nanayakkara Lekam With umbrellas, talipat, flags, fans, shields, tom-toms, drums, flutes, etc. accompanied by dancers.

12.                     The elephant of the Natha Devale bearing the bow and arrow of the God, attended by the women of the temple, and followed by the Basnayake Nilame with the same pomp of attendants as the former.

13.                     The elephants, bow and arrows, and people of the maha Vishnu Devala.

14.                     Of the Katharagama Devala.

15.                     Of the Pattini Devala.

16.                     the people of the Maha Lekam Departments carrying muskets and flags and proceeding their chiefs.

17.                     The people of the Atapattu department, similarly equipped, followed by the Atapattu Lekam, and the Ratemahatmayas of Udunuwara, yatinuwara, Tumpane, Harispattu, Dumbara, Hewaheta.

18.                     The people of Vedikkara Department, followed by their Lekam.

19.                     The people of the Vadanatuvakku department with their Lekam.

20.                     The people of the Padikara department and their Lekam.

The procession was very grand.

1.   Maha Lekam Mahatmaya with the Lekam mitiya and writing style.

2.   Gajanayake Nilame with the Hastiya (elephant) Maha Kodiya (flag).

3.   Kodituwakku Nilame with the Kodituvakku (gun flag) Maha Kodiya.

4.   Ketara Korale Disave with the Ira-sanda (sun and moon) Maha Kodiya.

5.   Sat Korale Disave with the Sinha (lion) Maha Kodiya.

6.   Uva Disave with the Hansaya (sacred goose) Maha Kodiya.

7.   Matale Disave with the Sudu (White) Maha Kodiya.

8.   Sabaragamuwa Disave with the Pataredi (Yellow Silk) Maha Kodiya.

9.   Tun Korale disave with the Bheru (Double headed eagle) Maha Kodiya.

10.                     Valapane Disave with the Mayura (Peacock) Maha Kodiya.

11.                     Uda Palata Disave with the Nelum Mal (Lotus flower) Maha Kodiya.

12.                     Nuwara Kalaviya Disave with the Gajasinghe (elephant trunk lion) Maha Kodiya.

13.                     Vellasse Disave with the Kotiya (Leopard) Maha Kodiya.

14.                     Bintenne Disave with the Girava (Parrot) Maha Kodya.

15.                     Tamankaduwe Disave with the Valaha (Bear) Maha Kodiya.

16.                     Elephant of the Maligawa, bearing the shrine and Tooth Relic attended by other elephants and the people of the Maligawa.

17.                     Elephant and people of the four devales: Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama and Pattini.

18.                     Ratemahatemayas and their flags.

19.                     Maha Lekam Department - Atkanda Lihiniya Kodiya.

20.                     Nanayakkara Lekam - Nil pata (blue silk) Kodiya.

21.                     Atapattu Lakam.

22.                     Vedikkara Lekam - Ratu pata (Red silk) Kodiya.

23.                     Vadana Ruvakkukara Lekam - Sudu pata (White silk) Kodiya.

24.                     Panidakara Lekam - Ratu pata (Red silk) Kodiya. The two Adigars brought up the rear.