No wait too long to see the Sacred Tooth Relic
Waiting with patience and devotion: People have been joining the queues since April 16
After 16 years, a public exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha – one of the most venerated objects of worship of Buddhists – is taking place. The exposition is on from April 18 – 27 from 12.30 p.m. – 5.30 p.m. each day after the completion of the morning Thevava (offering/service), a daily ritual at the Dalada Maligawa.
The Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayaka Thera of the Malwatte Chapter, told the Sunday Times that earlier too there had been many requests to have an exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic but due to the civil war and later the pandemic, it was not possible mainly due to security reasons. “This year, the President had mentioned that an exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic would be a blessing for the nation and the world and after discussions with the Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gñanarathana Thera, the Mahanayaka of the Asgiriya Chapter and Pradeep Nilanga Dela, the Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, we decided to have an exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic to bring peace and prosperity to the country, after the Sinhala and Hindu/Tamil New Year, as there had not been an exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic since 2009.”
During British colonial rule there had been a famine, and it is recorded that on the insistence of the local chieftains, there was an exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Torrential rains were experienced which was named ‘Daladawatura’. It is said that even the British had been impressed as it was not the rainy season.
Authorities in Kandy have made special arrangements to accommodate the large crowds of devotees arriving from all parts of the country for this special exposition.
Devotees had already taken their place in the queues from the 16th evening. Shelters had been erected over the pavements of D.S. Senanayake Vidiya, Deva Vidiya and the other roads leading to the Sri Dalada Maligawa to protect the devotees from the scorching sun and sudden showers.
Hemani Rupasinghe had come from Polonnaruwa at 11 p.m. on the 16th. “Mé magé palamuwana seré Dhatu pradarshanayakata awé,” (this is the first time I have come for an exposition of the Dhatu) she said. Seated next to her was Dharmaseeli from Galle.
Sunil Premachandra and family had come from Ragala on the 16th and it was the first time for him. Noel Vasantha and Geethika Piyaratna are from Homagama. “Api Pitakotuwen hatha hamare kochchiya gattha. Mehata enakota thunai thihai” (we took the 7.30 train from Pitakotuwa and reached Kandy at 3.30), said Geethika. Noel had come earlier in 2009 too with his mother for the exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic. A. Jayasena from Kadawatha told us he had come for the exposition many times.
Residents in and around Kandy town too had also joined the line early. Kumari from Mahaiyawa had come at 8 p.m. on the 16th while Piyaseeli Kannangara from Aruppola had come by 9 p.m.. All were seated comfortably, some having even brought their mattresses! The authorities have provided the basic facilities and they were happy with the arrangements, they said. People were distributing food to the devotees saying it’s a dane (alms giving).
The queue moves fast once they reach the place where the Sri Danta Dhatu is placed. Only three people will be sent in at a time just for one second to pay their homage to the Relic. Their one expectation is to have a glimpse of the Relic. One devotee said with a smile, “Apita aya kavada dakinta puluwan weiyda danné nae.”(we don’t know when we will be able to see again).
From Polonnaruwa: Hemani Rupasinghe (left) joined the line at 11 p.m. on the 16th
Distributing food to devo
| From India to Sri Lanka hidden in a hair ornament | |
| It is said that the Tooth Relic of the Buddha was removed by Arahant Khema, a pupil of Arahant Sariputta from the funeral pyre of Gautama Buddha and handed over to King Brahmadatta of Kalinga where it had been venerated for many centuries by the Buddhists in Kalinga.When the Sacred Relic was in the possession of King Guhasiva, Sidanta (Danta) the son of the king of Ujjeni had visited Kalinga to pay homage to the Relic. King Guhasiva gave his daughter Hemamala in marriage to Danta and he was made Dhaturakkhadhikaro – the Custodian of the Tooth Relic. As King Pandu’s nephew wished to possess the Sacred Tooth Relic he had waged war against King Guhasiva. Guhasiva died in battle. He had earlier instructed Danta and Hemamala to take the Sacred Relic to Sri Lanka for safe keeping.Disguised as Brahmins, Danta and Hemamala arrived in the island and it is believed that the Relic was hidden in Hemamala’s hair ornament. They handed the Relic over to King Sirimeghavanna of Anuradhapura. It is mentioned that the very first exhibition of the Sacred Relic for the public was held where Arahant Mahinda Thera gave his first sermon in Anuradhapura. During times of war and invasions by foreign powers, the Sacred Tooth Relic was taken to many parts of the country for safekeeping. Finally, after the Kandyan kingdom was ceded to the British, it was brought back to Kandy from Hindagala and placed in the palace. A resident custodian was appointed as Diyawadana Nilame. The custody of the Sacred Tooth Relic was handed over to the two Mahanayaka Theras of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters and the Diyawadana Nilame in 1853. Decisions regarding the Sacred Tooth Relic can therefore, only be made by them – not individually but jointly. |
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