Miracles of the Sacred Tooth Relic

The Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, Sri Dalada Maligawa, which is interwoven within Sri Lankan Culture, has been widely revered and respected by Buddhists all over the world for centuries since its advent in Sri Lanka during the reign of King Keerthi Sri Meghawanna (Kithsiri Mewan) (303-331).

- By Ven. Ketakumbure Dhammarama

The Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha has been the object of highest veneration and esteem amongst Buddhists. A wide literature has grown up around it since it fell into the hands of an Elder named Kema when the relics of the Buddha were divided after the cremation. He had taken it to Dantapura in Kalinga and handed over it to the King.

The Sacred Tooth Relic, which the exalted status as an object of Buddhist religious worship, has been held in high esteem as the symbol of kingship in Sri Lanka. According to tradition, one who ascends the throne should be in possession of the Sacred Tooth Relic and be its guardian as well. This long history over the succeeding centuries has created a vast literature.

The history of Buddhism has recorded that the four Sacred Tooth Relics of the Buddha had been left intact among the fragmented relics, as determined by the Lord Buddha. According to the details in Maha Parinibbana Sutta and Dalada Siritha chronicles, these four Sacred Tooth Relics had been divided among the realm of Gods, the country of Gandhara, the country of Kalinga, and the world of Nagas.

"Ekahi Dhata Nidimehi Poojitha Eka pana Gandharapure maheeyathi Kalingaragno vijithe pnekan Ekka Puna Nagaraja Mhenthi". (Maha Parinibbana Sutta—Dhatuchethiya Pooja).

The Sacred Tooth Relic taken to the Kalinga had been brought to Sri Lanka during the reign of Keerthi Sri Meghawanna (303-331).

According to the chronicles, the Sacred Tooth Relic had been highly venerated by the King of Kalinga and his successors. However, it had been in the possession of King Guhaseewa, who was a heathen. According to the chronicles, he had embraced Buddhism when he saw the miracles of the Sacred Tooth Relic.

How the Sacred Tooth Relic fell into the hands of King Panduka and his attempts to destroy the Tooth Relic at the instigation of the Niganthas have been related vividly.