Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy, also referred to as the temple of the sacred tooth relic is for Buddhists the holiest place in Sri Lanka as it is said to house one of surviving relics of the Buddha himself. The tooth relic has played an important role in the history of Sri Lanka ever since it was brought here in the 6th century BC. The belief that whoever had the relic would govern the country had something to do with it. Ancient kings went to great lengths to safeguard it. The Dalada Maligawa north of the Kandy royal palace, was built between the 17th and 18th centuries as a suitable place to enshrine the tooth relic. Originally a wooden structure the temple retained damage during the wars with the Portuguese and the Dutch after which a more durable structure was constructed. The Octagonal ‘Paththirippuwa’ and the moat that are its most recognizable features were added on in the early 19th century. An unprepossessing structure from the outside the temple interior features lacquer-work, inlaid wood decorations and stone carvings.
Entrance to the temple is over the moat and through the main gate known locally as the Mahawahalkada. Stone elephants on either side guard the entrance and in keeping with the Kandyan architectural style, a semi circular moonstone carved according to a long established design, is at the base of the entrance doorway. From here a stairway provides access to a two storey gallery through a decorative arch with traditional guard stones on either side. The inner sanctum is located in the upper storey. The chamber where the tooth relic is deposited has a red lacquer door with two mounted long ivory tusks on either side. The relic itself is encased in gem studded seven golden caskets in the shape of stupas. The casket in which the relic is paraded through the streets of Kandy during the 10 day annual July / August festival is also displayed here. Devotees are not allowed access to the inner sanctum unless it is a very special occasion. They make their offerings of lotus flower and incense from the long gallery outside. Hundreds of pilgrims visit the Sri Dalada Maligawa on a daily basis and this number swells considerably during special days like Wesak.
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