Temple of the Tooth Relic or The Dalada Maligawa

Relics of the Lord Buddha is venerated by all Buddhists throughout the world and the relic at the Dalada Maligawa is the left Canine Tooth of the Lord Buddha which is one of the remains of the cremated body of the Lord Buddha after the Parinirvana. It is said to be removed by the Arahanth Kema, who is a pupil of the great Arahanth Sariputta and given to King Brahmadatta of Kalinga, India. For centuries it was venerated and homage was paid by the Buddhists of Kalinga. During the time of King Sirimeghavanna (301 - 328 AD ) of Anuradhapura, the Tooth Relic was brought to Sri Lanka by Prince Dantha (son of the King of Udeni ) and Princess Hemamali ( daughter of King Guhasiva ). During a war waged to obtain the posession of the Relic tooth by the nephews of King Pandu against King Guhasiva, this was brought to Sri Lanka by Hemamali and Danta in the guise of Brahmins and the Tooth Relic was hidden and concealed in Princess Hemamali's hair.
he Lord Buddha Tooth relic which is presently at the Dalada Maligawa was brought to Kandy during the rein of king Vimaladharmasuriy I and he made a two storied Palace to place the Tooth Relic. During the first few centuries , it had been placed at Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Beligala Rock, Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa, Kurunegala and Kotte kingdoms. Due to Portugese invasion it was taken away by Buddhist priests to a mountanous region of Kandy and once Kandy was under the rule of the king, it was brought back again. Later King Vimaladharmasuriy II ( 1687-1707 AD) had made a three storied Tooth Relic Palace. King Parakrama Narendrasinghe ( 1707-1739 AD ) has also build a two storied temple for the Tooth Relic. The Last King of Sri Lanka, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe made the Octagonal Building called “ Pattirippuwa” and the moat in front of the Palace.