In Kandy, Sri Lanka, there is a Buddhist temple called Sri Dalada Maligawa. It is situated within the complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy's royal palace, which also houses a tooth-of-Buddha relic. The relic has been significant in local politics since the beginning because it is thought that whoever controls the relic controls the nation. The relic was once in the possession of Sinhalese kings. Mostly because of the temple and the artifact, the temple of the tooth is a World Heritage Site.Daily worship is performed in the inner chamber of the temple by the two specific chapters, the Malwathu and Asgiri chapters. Three rituals are carried out each day: one in the morning, one at noon, and one in the evening. Every Wednesday, the relic is symbolically bathed in a holy water known as Nanumura Mangallaya, which is believed to have healing properties. This herbal preparation is made from scented water and fragrant flowers.Bombings by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 1998 and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna in 1989 both caused damage to the temple. But each time it was fully restored.
Sri Dalada Maligawa History.
The left tooth of Gautama Buddha is kept in veneration at the revered Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. The temple, which is visited daily by tens of thousands of local and foreign pilgrims, was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988.
The temple, which is highly revered by Buddhists all over the world, is also of immeasurable cultural importance. The building's architecture combines the distinctive Kandyan architectural style with that of the shrines known as "Dalada Mandira" that once held the Sacred Tooth Relic in other kingdoms.
The Sacred Tooth Relic Temple is located in Kandy, close to the former Royal Palace, which is to the north, and the "Udawaththa Kelaya" Forest Reserve, which is to the east. Famous Kandy Lake is also known as "Kiri Muhuda" to the south and "Natha & Paththini Devala" to the west. The temple is ornamented with fine carvings made of ivory, gold, silver, bronze, and other materials.
The final resting place for the Buddha's sacred tooth relic is the holy city of Kandy. Princess Hemamala and Prince Dantha transported the sacred relic to Sri Lanka from the ancient Indian city of Kalinga during the rule of King Keerthi Sri Meghavarna (Kithsiri Mewan 301–328). Wherever the capital was located, it was carefully guarded in a special shrine that was built inside the walls of the royal palace and became a symbol of Sri Lankan kings. Ancient capitals Anuradhapura, Pollonnaruwa, Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa, Kurunegala, Kotte, and Gampola all have such structures' ruins still standing. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, which is located in Kandy, the last Kingdom, continues to be the most important shrine and is highly revered throughout the Buddhist world.
King Wimaladharmasuriya constructed the first "Dalada Madura" in Kandy, which housed the Sacred Tooth Relic, between the years of 1592 and 1604. This was obliterated by the Portuguese during their invasions, according to history. During his rule from 1635 to 1687, King Rajasinghe the Second constructed a second temple at the same site, but the Dutch set it on fire and destroyed it. According to Dalada history, in the year 1687, King Wimaladharmasuriya the Second erected a three-story Dalada Madura and engaged in intense devotional rituals, but over time, the structure deteriorated and was destroyed. The two-story Dalada Madura that is visible today was built by his son King Sri Veera Parakrama Narendrasinghe, who ruled from 1707 to 1739. The shrine that King Narendrasinghe built was renovated and guarded by the South Indian Kings who ruled the nation from Senkadagala.
King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe meticulously renovated and embellished the temple to give it its current appearance. The Octagonal Pavilion, also known as Paththirippuwa, was built by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, who ruled from 1798 to 1815.
The three chief custodians of the Tooth Relic—the Most Venerable Mahanayake Theros of Malwatta and Asgiriya chapters and the lay custodian, the Diyawadana Nilame—continue to strictly monitor the protection of the Sacred Tooth Relic and the continuous performance of religious rituals.
Attacks on the building
Paththirippuwa
In an effort to seize the relic, the militant group Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) attacked the temple in 1989. The royal palace's front side was damaged in an attack in 1998 by the militant group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Architecture
Inside the Temple of the Tooth
The golden canopy over the main shrine
The Bogambara lake and moat's brick wall are together referred to as the "water waves wall."[4] Lamps made of coconut oil are lit through holes in this wall. Maha Wahalkada is the name of the main entrance gate, which is located over the moat. A Sandakada pahana (moonstone) that is carved in the Kandyan architectural style is located at the base of the Mahawahalkada steps. A bomb explosion in 1998 completely destroyed Mahawahalkada; it was later rebuilt alongside other stone carvings like Sandakada pahana.On either side of the entrance, there are stone carvings of elephants. On top of the staircase are two guardian stones and a Makara Torana.
The chamber of the Hewisi drummers is located in front of the main shrine. "Palle malaya" (lower floor) and "Udu malaya" (upper floor) or "Weda hidina maligawa" are the names of the main shrine's two floors. Weda Hidina Maligawa's doors feature ivory carvings. The "Handun kunama" is the name of the actual chamber where the tooth relic is kept.Former Prime Minister Ranasinghe Premadasa constructed the main shrine's golden canopy and the golden fence that surrounds the entire temple complex in 1987. Seven golden sarcophagi that have precious gemstone engravings surround the tooth relic. The procession casket that is used for the Kandy Esala Perahera is on display in the same room as the casket that represents a stupa.
Associated buildings and structures
Royal Palace
To the north of the temple is where the royal palace is located. John Pybus provides a thorough description of the royal palace while serving on an embassy in 1762.On this site, royal palaces were constructed by Vikramabahu III of Gampola (r. 1356–1374) and Sena Sammatha Wickramabahu of Kandy (r. 1469–1511). Kandy's Vimaladharmasuriya I decorated the palace in a number of ways. General Gerard Pietersz Hulft and the Dutch orientalist Philippus Baldaeus visited the palace in 1656. In Sinhalese, the royal residence was referred to as "Maha Wasala" beginning in the Polonnaruwa era. "Maligawa" (Palace) is another name for the royal palace. The main entrances were three Wahalkadas and an 8 feet (2.4 m) high wall.The oldest part of the palace is rumored to be the area facing the Natha Devale. Sir John D'Oyly, 1st Baronet of Kandy, a government agent, used it at the start of the British era. It has remained in use by D'Oyly's successors as their official residence. It is still there today and is a museum of archaeology. The palace's auxiliary structures include Ulpen Ge and Queens Palace.
Audience hall
The Kandyan kings held court in the audience hall, or magul maduwa. It was finished during Sri Vikrama Rajasinha's rule. A prime example of Kandyan period wood carving is found on the wooden pillars that support the wooden roof. It was built in 1783 by Sri Rajadhi Rajasinha of Kandy. For the reception of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales' arrival in 1872, the hall underwent renovation.The hall had a size of 58 by 35.6 feet (17.7 m by 10.9 m) before renovations; the new length is 31.6 feet (9.6 m). Other nearby structures to the halls are thought to have been destroyed during British rule. The Kandyan Convention was drafted in the audience hall, where it was also read aloud to the crowd and where the conference regarding the convention was held on March 2, 1815. Later, the Kandy Kachcheri and Kandy Supreme Court were built there. It is now preserved by the department of archaeology and used for state ceremonies.
Maha Maluwa
The general public visited "Maha Maluwa" to witness the yearly Esala perahera. Madduma Bandara's statue is still there today. Another attraction is the memorial that houses Keppetipola Disawe's skull. Here you can also find the statues of Prince Dantha and Princess Hemamali.
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