Funday Times

Gaveshaka discusses the rituals at the Sri Dalada Maligawa
Monks perform the 'tevava' thrice a day
Esala Poya is of special significance to the Sri Dalada Maligawa. This is the time when the annual pageant is held in Kandy. Prior to discussing details of the pageant, it is useful to understand the daily happenings inside the Dalada Maligawa by way of traditions and rituals.

Very often when we visit the Dalada Maligawa we see drummers playing drums to a particular rhythm. This is a form of offering made to the sacred Tooth Relic which symbolises the living Buddha. Temple rituals are performed daily in the name of the Buddha. The main rituals are known as 'tevava' meaning service or offering. These are daily services performed by monks specially selected for the purpose. Three monks from either the Malwatta or the Asgiriya Chapter are in charge of the 'tevava'.

The nominated monks reside in the Temple during the one year period when the task is handed over from one Chapter to the other. The changeover takes place in the month of July. Often the Maha Nayaka Thera of the particular Chapter himself spends most of the time in the Dalada Maligawa during this period.

While two monks perform the 'tevava' in the 'udamale', the upper floor where the Tooth Relic is kept, the third monk conducts the 'tevava' in the 'budu ge' (image house) in the 'pallemale', the lower floor. The 'tevava' is done with the utmost respect and veneration by the monks, assisted by a lay assistant. No one else is allowed to participate. There is continuous drumming in the lower floor during the 'tevava' thus signifying that the 'tevava' is being held.

Drumming begins around 5 in the morning, signifying the 'aluyam tevava' or the service at dawn. The monks come down from their quarters, wash their feet (in keeping with the tradition of cleaning your feet prior to entering a temple) and follow the 'vattorurala' who carries the keys of the Temple on his shoulder as a mark of respect.

The utensils used for the 'tevava' are all made of gold. The ceremony is a re-enactment of offerings made to the Buddha when He was living. The monks recite Pali stanzas which describe the rituals. The ringing of a bell indicates the end of the ceremony when drumming too stops. The ceremony takes over an hour.

The identical ceremony takes place during mid-day when the alms are offered, and in the evening. During the mid-day service, five musicians perform using different musical instruments representing the 'panca turya naada'. What they perform is known as 'sabda puja' or offering of sounds. Most devotees flock to pay homage to the Tooth Relic during the mid-day service when a limited number would be admitted to the inner sanctum, particularly those who are given the task of planning the alms on the particular day. They are allowed to offer flowers (the flowers are given to one of the two monks conducting the 'tevava', who then places them before the relic casket), worship the Relic, which is housed in seven caskets, and depart.

The drum beats differ according to the various offerings made during the 'tevava' thus offering a varied collection of tunes. In the evening, a 'gilan pasa puja' is held. Here only liquids are offered in keeping with the tradition of the Buddha and the Buddhist clergy not taking any solid food after noon until the next morning.

In addition to the daily rituals, there are special ceremonies connected with the Sri Dalada. One is the 'nanumura mangalle' , a symbolic bathing ceremony, performed with the mid-day service every Wednesday. 'Poya hewisi' is another special ritual performed by the drummers on Poya days.

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