REL2011/Evans Course Module:
Role of the Buddha in Sri Lankan Worship



III. The Tooth Relic


A large elephant bears the casket of the the tooth relic on
its back during the festival of the tooth relic. 		Its history is chronicled in Pali verse in the 'Chronical of the Tooth (Dathavamsa) composed in the twelfth century. The Portuguese claimed to have taken it to Goa and destroyed it in the sixteenth century, but the Sinhalese claim that by miraculous intervention they failed to do so. The Sinhalese kings built a temple for it in Kandy which has the title, unique for religious edifice, of 'palace' --'the Palace of the Tooth Relic.'

Monks of the two great monasteries of Kandy, alternately officiate there, preaching on poya days, etc. It is nowadays exhibited only to people of the greatest importance, such as heads of state and prime ministers.

But once a year it is on view to the public for several days, during which period it is taken in procession inside its casket on the back of the largest available elephant; though it is said that these days an empty casket is taken, in case of accidents. Probably no other occasion attracts so many Sinhalese visitors from all over the island and specially the Kandyan provinces; the procession is certainly a pinkama (act of merit) and attendance is meritorious; but the Tooth Temple is not one of the sixteen great places of pilgrimage, because the Buddha never visited Kandy.



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Last revised: August 2, 2000