Kandy (Senkadagalapura) - Temple of Tooth & Esala Perahera

Kandy (Senkadagalapura) - Temple of Tooth & Esala Perahera

Sri Dalada Maligawa, which enshrines the Tooth Relic of the Buddha, is the holiest shrine in the entire Buddhist world and to the people of Sri Lanka. According to tradition the Tooth Relic was brought to Sri Lanka when King Kirti Sri Meghavarna (301-328) was ruling in Anuradhapura, by a princess from Kalinga named Hemamali, securely wrapped in her tresses.

• Maha Nuwara - City of Kandy : The Senkadagalapura( Available historical records suggest that Senkadagalapura (an early name for Kandy) was established by the King Wickramabahu III during the period of his reign from 1357-1374 AD. )
• Odyssey of the 'Tooth Relic of the Buddha' ( The 'Danta Dhatu' (Tooth Relic of the Buddha) is one of the most revered objects of worship by Buddhists throughout the world. It now lies in the sanctum sanctorum of the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy enshrined in an embellished reliquary. The relic was brought to the island by chance during the 9th regnal year of king Keerthi Sri Meghavarna (371 AD), and ever since it was protected by kings and laymen who paid homage to it with unbound munifience. )
• Dalada Maligawa : Temple of Tooth History ( By the 12th century the Tooth Relic had become the palladium of Sinhala royalty, conferring on its custodian the right to he sovereignty of Sri Lanka. )
• THE SACRED TOOTH RELIC ARRIVAL IN SRI LANKA  IN SENKADAGALA ( KANDY )
• Dalada Maligawa : Temple of Tooth Rituals (Ever since the four canine teeth of the Buddha after cremation came to be in the possession of devas, nagas and men, these were preciously guarded and received special veneration and worship.)
• Kandy Esala Perahera - The History & the Process of the pageant ( The Kandy Esala Perahera is held annually in July August on days fixed by the Diyawadana Nilame (Chief Lay Head or Trustee) of the Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic). Its origin, as one writer on Ceylon describes it, is "lost in the mists of centuries". )
• Kandy Esala Perahera - Origins of a historic pageant steeped in ritual ( Before 1775, the Esala perahera in Kandy was exclusively held to entreat and implore the four guardian deities of the island, viz: Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama and Pattini. This is confirmed by Robert Knox, who was a captive in the Kandyan provinces for twenty years (1659-1679).
• Wanted: A Sathdantha ("high-caste") elephant ( "Sathdantha" means that when the elephant stands erect, seven points: the four legs, its trunk, penis and tail must touch the ground,)