Sri Dalada Maligawa / Temple Of Tooth

The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic or Sri Dalada Maligawa, is a Buddhist temple in Kandy,  Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country. The relic was historically held by Sinhalese kings. The temple of the tooth is a World Heritage Site mainly due to the temple and the relic.

Bhikkhus of the two particular chapters, the Malwathu chapters and Asgiri chapters, conduct daily worship in the inner chamber of the temple. Rituals are performed three times daily: at dawn, at noon and in the evenings. On Wednesdays, there is a symbolic bathing of the relic with a herbal preparation made from scented water and fragrant flowers called Nanumura Mangallaya; this holy water is believed to contain healing powers and is distributed to those present.

The temple sustained damage from bombings by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna in 1989, and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 1998. However, it was fully restored each time.

Change of Theva duty at the Maligawa on Esala Poya

Esala Full Moon Poya which falls on July 13 this year is very significant to Buddhists as many important events took place in the Buddhist world on this full moon day.

The Buddha’s first sermon Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta to the five ascetics

It is believed that the conception of the Bodhisatva in the womb of Maha Maya Devi was on an Esala Poya. Prince Siddhartha Gautama’s Renunciation –  leaving the lay life, his son Prince Rahula’s birth, the Buddha’s first sermon Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta to the five ascetics Kondagna, Baddhiya, Vappa, Mahanama and Assaji at the Deer Park in Isipathana, the twin  miracles (yamakamaha prathihraya) by the Buddha and the sermon on Abhidamma in the Tavtisa heaven were also on an Esala Poya.

The laying of the foundation for the Ruwanveliseya in Anuradhapura by King Dutugemunu and  the first Dalada Perahera by King Kithsiri Meghavanna are important events that took place in Sri Lanka on an Esala Poya.

The Most Ven.  Dimbulkumbure Sri Sarankara Wimaladhamma Anunayake Maha Thera of the Malwatte Chapter spoke to the Sunday Times on the changing of the Tevava duties at the Sri Dalada Maligawa on Esala Poya. “For one year from last Esala Poya the Tevava duties were performed by the Malwatte Chapter. On this Esala Poya the duty will be handed over to the Asgiriya Chapter,” said the Anunayaka Thera.

Esala Perahera

The Maha Thera explained that the Asgiriya and Malwatte Viharas were in existence from the time of the early Kandyan Kings. “There were two groups of monks. The Asgiriya Chapter is  the Aranyavasi (some monks meditating in forests) and the Malwatte Chapter monks were the  Gramavasi (living in villages).” He explained further that the Tevava was divided among the two viharas and they take turns in performing the duties on Esala Poya in preparation for the Vassana season (rainy season),  when the Upasampada bhikkhus had to be indoors for three months.

There are five bhikkhus appointed by the Mahanayaka Thera of the particular viharaya to perform the Tevava,  residing in the Sri Dalada Maligawa from the day after the Esala Poya.

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Commander in Kandy Makes Obeisance to Dalada Maligawa & Mahanayake Theros

Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, Commander of the Army, together with his spouse, Mrs. Janaki Liyanage, President, Army Seva Vanitha unit and family members made obeisance to the sacred Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of Tooth) in Kandy Saturday (11)  and received blessings, the first formal pilgrimage to this hallowed shrine in the up country after assumption of office as the 24th Army Chief.

At the entrance to the shrine, the chieftain (Diyawadana Nilame) of the temple, Mr Nilanga Dela Bandara offering a tray of jasmine flowers to the Commander of the Army welcomed him to the location before he was ushered to the main chamber for religious observances. The offering of ‘Gilanpasa’ and other offerings followed the blessings of the Maha Sangha at the location. Soon after a brief interaction with members of the Sangha present there, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage had a brief exchange of views at the Diyawadana Nilame's office. Before his exit from the premises, both of them exchanged mementos.

As has been the practice after appointment of a new Commander of the Army, the Commander and his family members afterwards called on the Mahanayake Thero of Malwatte Chapter, Most Ven Thibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Mahanayaka Thero at the Malwatte monastery where the prelate invoked blessings on the new appointment and wished the new Commander have strength to protect the country in the future and continue the Army’s good work.

Afterwards, the new Commander paid obeisance to the Mahanayake Thero of Asgiriya Chapter and offered Pirikara to him. During the interaction, Most Ven Warakagoda Sri Gnanaratana Mahanayaka Thero expressed his happiness at the appointment of Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage and urged the Commander to carry on with ongoing development roles of the Army for the benefit of all Sri Lankans.

Mrs Janaki Liyanage, family members, Major General Chandana Wickremasinghe, Military Secretary, Major General Kalpa Sanjeewa, General Officer Commanding, 11 Division and several Senior Officers were associated with the day’s itinerary.

In response to media queries, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage said that all efforts would be made by the Army to cultivate all abandoned state lands in an attempt to meet with food shortage challenges.SL Army.

Kandy Esala Perahera festival to begin on July 29

KANDY: Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela says that this year’s Kandy Esala Perahera will commence on July 29 with the traditional “Kap” planting ceremony at the four Maha Devalayas.

Addressing a press conference held at the Sri Dalada Maligawa Multipurpose Building on Wedensday, the Diyawadane Nilame said that this year’s pageant would be open to spectators. The pageant was closed to the public in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID 19 pandemic.

He said that the “Kap” planting ceremony will be held at the four great temples of Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama and Pattini at the auspicious time of 3.03 am on July 29.

After “Kap” planting in the four great Devales, five Devale peraheras (processions) will be held for the next five nights.

Starting the Esala Festival the first Kumbal Perahera will take to the streets on Aug 02 and parade the streets for five days until the Aug 6.

The first Randoli Perahera will take to the streets on Aug 7, after a five day Kumbal Perahera.

The final Randoli Perahera will be held on the Nikini Full Poya Day on Aug 11 and the Kandy Esala Perahera will conclude with a daytime Perahera and water cutting ceremony on the following day with the presentation the Sandeshaya to the President at the President’s House in Kandy.

Anunayake Most Venerable Dimbulkumbure Wimaladhamma Thero of the Malwathu Chapter, Deputy Registrar of the Asgiriya Chapter Ven. Narampanawe Ananda Thero, Basnayake Nilames and a number of government officials were present at the media briefing.