The Sacred Tooth Relic: An incredible journey, documented

• To protect the tooth relic, King Guhaseeva entrusted his only daughter, Princess Hemamali and Prince Dantha to safeguard the relic from any potential enemies
• Even though King Wimaladharmasuriya of Kandy helped in the construction of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, the tooth relic had to move multiple places before it was permanently kept at the Sri Dalada Maligawa
• The tooth relic once it was brought down, had travelled many places including Dambadeniya, Polonnaruwa, Gampola and many other major towns until ending up in its current locale in the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy

The dawn of the New Year 2025 is further glorified by the meritorious ‘Exposition of the sacred Tooth Relic of the ‘Gautama Samma Sambuddha’ at the Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy, beginning April 18 to April 27.

Historical Chronicles

Five hundred years after the arrival of Priestess Sanghamitta Theri, and the plantation ceremony of Jaya Sri Maha Bhodhi at the Mahamewna gardens, the sacred relic of the Gautama Samma Sambuddha, was gifted to King Kithsiri Mewan by the King Guhaseeva of Kalinga state.

The Tooth Relic has been through many voyages, exchanged by many hands, before ending up permanently enshrined in the Sri Dalada Maligawa

According to Historical Chronicles and ancient records of the Chinese Pilgrim Fa Hien, and Dalada Siritha, vivid descriptions are highlighted. From time to time, state kings in India fought against each other to take possession of the Buddha’s relics during the 4th century B.C. A sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha was in the procession of King Guhaseeva. At the time, two powerful state princesses declared war against King Guhaseeva on the same issue. King Guhaseeva, realising the impending threat and danger, determined not to surrender the sacred relic to the enemies. Accordingly, he entrusted his only daughter, Princess Hemamali and Prince Dantha to safeguard the Relic from the enemy forces in case they won the war. The King also instructed them to be prepared and to vanish in disguise to Sri Lanka. He wanted them to hand over the sacred relic to his contemporary King Kithsiri Mewan, of Anuradhapura, as a Royal gift from him.

The great expedition

On hearing about the demise of King Guhaseeva and the defeat of the state, the duo gave up their Royal regalia and, after disguising themselves as Brahmin pilgrims, they set forth to embark on their adventurous mission. Princess Hemamali secretly carried the tiny golden relic casket on top of her head.

Hidden within her knotted hair, their task in the espionage became gruesome and challenging. They walked through the forests infested with dangerous wild beasts and suffered thirst and hunger with no rest or sleep day and night. They could only depend on guardian deities.

As they crossed the borders of the jungle, they came across a sandy valley. At this point, they decide to take a brief rest. Thinking of a way, they both decided to make a pagoda of sand and hide the relic casket under cover during their resting time. 

While the couple was relaxing, a miracle occurred with radiant beams of light illuminating the relics. An Arahant named Khema, passing by above to Himalaya, noticed this splendour. He descended to the ground before the royal couple and listened to their Noble Mission. 

Once again, Prince Danta and Princess Hemamali went into deep, peaceful sleep. Meanwhile, a powerful King Cobra named Pandubhara, living by the banks of the river Ganges, too, observed illuminations radiating from the sand pagoda. Being highly devout, he secretly removed the Relic casket and vanished to the great Mountain ‘Mahameru’.

After awakening from their sleep, the royal couple prepared to resume their journey and looked for the golden casket. Though the Pagoda remained undisturbed, to their dismay, the sacred relic was missing. Disappointed by this sudden incident, they prayed to Arahant Khema. The Arahant not only arrived but also traced the whereabouts of the Relic Casket.

Then, assuming the status of an Eagle, he went and confronted the powerful Naga. After realising the spiritual powers of the Arahant, Naga pleaded to allow him to retain the sacred relic, to acquire more merits. Then the Arahant addressed the Naga so kindly and explained that more than a reptile having it, more merits would be generated by allowing the Relic Casket to reach the land of Sri Lanka, a meritorious Nation capable of protecting, promulgating and preserving the doctrine of the exalted one for the welfare of global society. 

Gladdened by the discovery, the couple carrying the sacred relic reached a safe naval city called “Tamalingamu”. 

Delighted by the assurances received from the Arahant Khema, the Royals reached the Indian shores and managed to hire a ship to sail to the Island of Serindib. 

After landing on Sri Lankan shores, Prince Dantha and Princess Hemamali remained as guests of a Brahmin at a Kovil. Thereafter, following the guidelines given by the Brahmin, the Royal Couple made their way towards the Capital city of Anuradhapura. They travelled a long distance on foot via jungle paths, and the tiresome episode ended by arriving at Meghagiri Vihara to meet the incumbent Thera.

The Maha Thera, having listened to the story of the Royal visitors, conveyed an urgent message to King Kithsiri Mewan (meghavanna).

On hearing the welcoming news, the King became highly delighted and ordered immediate preparations to ceremonially welcome the Royal Visitors and to receive the precious royal gift. 

At first, the King Kithsiri Mewan gave a full hearing to the Royal Visitors, detailing the chain of events in detail that led them to bring the sacred relic in a manner of espionage. Having paid due respects and obeisance to the Buddha’s relics, the King inquired as to why the sacred relic bore a tainted shade. 

Dispelling all doubts, miraculously, the sacred Relic emerged from the casket, appearing in the sky, radiating a luminous aura. Thereafter, under Royal patronage, the city of Anuradhapura was gaily decorated, pandols were erected and conducted through a splendid pageant, Princess Hemamali and Prince Danta, along with the sacred Tooth Relic of Tathagata Gautama, were ushered to the King’s Palace. Upon their reaching at the royal yard, the King Kithsirimewan went on his knees and carried the sacred relic on his head. He then placed the sacred gold relic casket on his royal throne, fully covered with jasmine flowers. Thereupon, the King, declaring a vow, offered the Island of Serindib as well as the population of our entire Nation, to the custody and protection of the holy and sacred Tooth Relic of the Tathagata Gautama. 

The King also provided arrangements for the Princess and Prince to permanently reside in Sri Lanka. 

In response to the plea by the people, the king also ordered a public exhibition of the Sacred Tooth relic in Anuradhapura. Later, the relic was placed at Isurumuniya and Dhamma Cakka Vihara, in a specially built chamber and offerings were made regularly.

After several years following foreign threats, the relic was secretly moved to the mountain of Udundora, in Southern Sri Lanka. 

During the reign of King Parakramabahu the Great, the sacred relic was brought back to the then capital Polonnaruwa and was housed at the special Dalada Maligawa.

Traversing many locations

Later, under different rulers, the relic was transferred to several places and ruling cities. From Kotmale, Wijeyabahu the 3rd brought the sacred relic to Dambadeniya. Then from Rajangana to Yapahuwa during Bhuvanekabahu the 1st. Once the Pandyans invaded the city, they took away the Tooth relic to their country. Thereafter, King Parakramabahu the 3rd, by diplomatic sources and friendly arrangements with Pandyan King Kulasekera, obtained a sacred relic and brought it back to Polonnaruwa. From Polonnaruwa sacred relic was taken to Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa, Kurunegala, Gampola and then Kotte.

During the Kotte disputes, the sacred relic was secretly taken to Delgamuwa Raja Maha Vihara in Ratnapura and kept hidden. 

King Wimaladharmasuriya of Kandy, having built the present, the Sri Dalada Maligawa, the sacred relic, was brought back to Kandy in a grand religious pageant. Then again, to protect the precious relic, it was periodically moved from place to place from Ududumbara, Kivulgama, Pitigoda, Hanguranketha, Kandenuwara, Kotmale and Pusulpitiya until it was permanently enshrined at the Sri Dalada Maligawa.

The article is based on facts narrated by the late Ven Neluwe Nagita Thera and eminent lay preacher Late O.K.W. Atigala of Hill Capital. 

The writer can be emailed [email protected].