The Temple of the Sacred Tooth

 The Temple Of The Tooth Relic is a very important place for all Buddhists of the world.We usually call it as "Sri Dalada Maligawa".It is a Buddhist temple located in Kandy,Sri Lanka.It is located in the royal palace complex of the former kindom of Kandy,which houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha.Sri Dantha Dhathu resides in it.Since ancient times in Sri Lanka the Temple Of The Tooth was a very very important place in Sri Lanka.

The first “Dalada Madura” in Kandy, which housed the Sacred Tooth Relic was built by King Wimaladharmasuriya the first during his reign from year 1592 – 1604. History reveals that this was destroyed by the Portuguese during their invasions. The second temple was built in the same location by King Rajasinghe the Second during his reign from 1635 – 1687, which was burnt by the Dutch. The Dalada history says in year 1687 King Wimaladharmasuriya the Second built a 3 storeyed Dalada Madura and performed Dalada rituals with great devotion but with time the building was decayed and destroyed. Later his son King Sri Veera Parakrama Narendrasinghe who reigned from 1707 – 1739 built the 2 storeyed Dalada Madura which one can see today. The South Indian Kings who ruled the country from Senkadagala renovated and protected the shrine which was built by King Narendrasinghe.

The temple was finely renovated and beautified by King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe to its present appearance. Paththirippuwa or the Octagonal Pavilion was constructed by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe who reigned from year 1798 – 1815.
Protecting of the Sacred Tooth Relic and conducting religious rituals without a break is being carried out to the present day under the strict surveillance of 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.

Today Sri Dalada Maligawa is the most popular place to travel.Many people come there to see it.Most of them are going to worship The Sacre Tooth of Lord Buddha.It is a world heritage side named by Unesco.We must protect this valuable place