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Alaththi Amma, the only female servitor of the tooth relic, gets token of appreciation
View(s):By L B Senaratne
The only woman among the 423 people who serve the Sri Dalada Maligawa, the Alaththi Amma who serves in the inner shrine room every Wednesday throughout the year, as well as during the perahera and all other rituals, was presented with a token of appreciation by the Maligawa at a presentation ceremony held over the weekend.
The event, held to felicitate those who have been serving the Maligawa for more than 15 years, took place at the Pallekele International Buddhist Academy Auditorium under the distinguished patronage of the Maha Sangha of Malwatte and Asgiriya Maha Vihares. The tokens were presented by the Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela accompanied by Ms. Madhawee Dela.
The Alaththi Amma hasthe privilege of entering the inner shrine room and closing the door when the officiating monks come out. She is sometimes accompanied by a lady of the same family for the ritual on Wednesdays, when the Scared Tooth Relic is bathed with perfumed water, the water being later distributed to devotees. Her presence is vital during the Annual Esala Maha Perahera and on all days when rituals take place.
The Alaththi Amma is viewed by some as the “stepmother” of the Buddha. What she does within the inner shrine is a secret unknown to all except the officiating monks who however never speak on the matter.
The ritual she performs is hereditary within two families whose surname is Ranaweera and has been passed down from generation to generation. The Alaththi Ammas themselves do not know when the ritual originated.
All that the public knows about the Alaththi Ammas’ ritual is that the two women enter the inner shrine with a wick dipped in pure coconut oil placed on a betel leaf.
The photograph depicts the Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela presenting the token in the shape of an octagon to the Alaththi Amma. In the background is Ms. Madhawee Dela.
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