History Of the Gautama Buddha's Tooth Relic

 

The legend of Gautama Buddha's Maha parinirvana tells the story of Princess Hemamali and Prince Dantha smuggling a tooth relic to Anuradhapura Island after the Maha parinirvana. 

The relic was enshrined in Meghagiri Vihara, present-day Isurumuniya, and was handed over to the king during the reign of Sirimeghavanna of Anuradhapura. The custodianship of the relic symbolized the right to rule the island, and reigning monarchs built temples close to their royal residences. The relic was housed in Niyamgampaya Vihara during the Kingdom of Gampola and was later moved and hidden in Delgamuwa Vihara, Ratnapura. It was brought to Kandy by Hiripitiye Diyawadana Rala and Devanagala Rathnalankara Thera. 

King Vimaladharmasuriya I built a two-storey building to deposit the tooth relic, but the building is now gone. In 1603, the Portuguese kingdom invaded Kandy, and it was carried to Meda Mahanuwara in Dumbara. 

The present-day temple of the tooth was built by Vira Narendra Sinha, with an octagonal Paththirippuwa and moat added during Sri Vikrama Rajasinha's reign. The octagonal Paththirippuwa houses the temple's library.