Difference between revisions of "Relic of the tooth of the Buddha"
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| − | The '''Sacred Relic of the tooth of Buddha''' (Sinhala:දන්ත ධාතුව) (danta dhātuya) is venerated in Sri Lanka as a relic (cetiya) of the founder of Buddhism. | + | |
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| + | The '''[[Sacred Relic of the tooth of Buddha]]''' ([[Sinhala]]:[[දන්ත ධාතුව]]) ([[danta dhātuya]]) is venerated in [[Sri Lanka]] as a [[relic]] ([[cetiya]]) of the [[founder of Buddhism]]. | ||
[[File:Zahntempel_Kandy.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | [[File:Zahntempel_Kandy.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | ||
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==History== | ==History== | ||
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| − | According to Sri Lankan legends, when the Lord Buddha died (mahä Parinibbhäna) BC 543, his body was cremated in a sandalwood pyre at Kusinagara in India and his left canine tooth was retrieved from the funeral pyre by Arahat Khema. Khema then gave it to King Brahmadatte for veneration. It became a royal possession in Brahmadatte's country and was kept in the city of Dantapuri (present day Puri in Odisha). | + | === The [[relic]] in [[India]] === |
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| + | According to [[Sri Lankan]] {{Wiki|legends}}, when the [[Lord Buddha]] [[died]] ([[mahä Parinibbhäna]]) BC 543, his [[body]] was [[Wikipedia:cremation|cremated]] in a [[sandalwood]] pyre at [[Kusinagara]] in [[India]] and his left canine tooth was retrieved from the [[funeral]] pyre by [[Arahat]] [[Khema]]. | ||
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| + | [[Khema]] then gave it to [[King]] [[Brahmadatte]] for veneration. | ||
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| + | It became a {{Wiki|royal}} possession in [[Brahmadatte's]] country and was kept in the city of [[Dantapuri]] ({{Wiki|present}} day [[Puri]] in [[Odisha]]). | ||
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| + | A [[belief]] grew that whoever possessed the [[Sacred Tooth Relic]] had a [[divine]] right to {{Wiki|rule}} that land. | ||
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| + | [[Wars]] were fought to take possession of the [[relic]]. 800 years after the [[Buddha's death]], in the 4th century CE, the tooth came into the possession of [[King]] [[Guhaseeva]] of [[Kalinga]], which roughly corresponds to the {{Wiki|present}} day [[state]] of [[Odisha]]. | ||
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| + | [[Kalinga]] had become [[Buddhist]] and begun to {{Wiki|worship}} the [[Sacred]] [[Tooth relic]]. | ||
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| + | This [[caused]] {{Wiki|discontent}} among some of the citizens, who went to [[King]] [[Paandu]] and said that [[King]] [[Guhaseeva]] had stopped believing in [[god]] and that he had started to {{Wiki|worship}} a tooth. | ||
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| + | [[King]] [[Paandu]] decided to destroy the [[relic]], and ordered it to be brought to the city. | ||
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| + | It is said that, as the tooth arrived at the city, a [[miracle]] occurred, and [[King]] [[Paandu]] converted to [[Buddhism]]. | ||
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| + | When [[King]] [[Ksheeradara]] heard of this, he went with his {{Wiki|army}} to attack [[Paandu]] in the city of [[Palalus]]. | ||
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| + | The invaders were defeated before reaching the city, and [[King]] [[Ksheeradara]] [[died]]. | ||
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| + | A {{Wiki|prince}} from the city of [[Udeni]] who had become a [[Buddhist]] came to {{Wiki|worship}} the [[sacred]] tooth. [[King]] [[Guhaseeva]] was [[pleased]] with him, and let him marry his daughter. | ||
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| + | The {{Wiki|prince}} was known as [[Dantha]] and the {{Wiki|princess}} as [[Hemamala]]. | ||
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| + | When his sons heard that [[King]] [[Ksheeradara]] had [[died]] in the [[war]], they raised a large {{Wiki|army}} to attack [[King]] [[Guhaseeva]] and destroy the [[relic]]. | ||
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| + | They entered the city, but [[King]] [[Guhaseeva]] secretly sent away [[Dantha]] and [[Hemamala]] with the [[relic]]. | ||
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| − | + | === The [[relic]] in [[Sri Lanka]] === | |
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[[File:SL51tooth.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | [[File:SL51tooth.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | ||
| − | According to legend, Hemamala hid the relic in her hair ornament and the royal couple disguised themselves as Brahmins in order to avoid discovery. They set sail from Tamralipti, a port at the mouth of the river Ganges, and landed in Sri Lanka at the port of Lankapattana (now Ilankeiturei). It is said that Sri Lanka was chosen as the new home for the tooth relic because the Lord Buddha had declared that his religion would be safe in Sri Lanka for 5000 years.[ | + | According to legend, [[Hemamala]] hid the [[relic]] in her [[hair]] ornament and the {{Wiki|royal}} couple disguised themselves as [[Brahmins]] in order to avoid discovery. |
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| + | They set sail from [[Tamralipti]], a port at the {{Wiki|mouth}} of the [[river]] [[Ganges]], and landed in [[Sri Lanka]] at the port of [[Lankapattana]] (now [[Ilankeiturei]]). | ||
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| + | It is said that [[Sri Lanka]] was chosen as the new home for the [[tooth relic]] because the [[Lord Buddha]] had declared that his [[religion]] would be safe in [[Sri Lanka]] for 5000 years. | ||
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| + | At the time of [[Dantha's]] and [[Hemamali's]] arrival on the [[island]], [[king]] [[Kirthi Sri Meghavarna]] or [[Kithsirimevan]] ruled [[Sri Lanka]]. | ||
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| + | The [[king]] was overjoyed when he heard the news and warmly welcomed the {{Wiki|royal}} couple and received the [[Sacred Tooth Relic]] with great veneration. | ||
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| + | He built a beautiful palace within the {{Wiki|royal}} palace complex itself and enshrined the [[relic]] in it. | ||
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| + | Thereafter, he ordered that an annual perahera be held in honour of the [[sacred]] [[relic]]. | ||
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| + | As time went on, the land was threatened with foreign invasions (at one of which the [[king]] of [[Pegu]] [[offered]] the [[Portuguese]] £50 000 as a ransom of the tooth) and the seat of the {{Wiki|kingdom}} was moved from [[Anuradhapura]] to [[Polonnaruwa]], then to [[Dambadeniya]] and other cities. Upon each change of capital, a new palace was built to enshrine the [[relic]]. | ||
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| + | Finally, it was brought to {{Wiki|Kandy}} where it is at {{Wiki|present}}, in the [[Temple of the Tooth]]. | ||
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| + | The [[Sacred]] [[Tooth Relic]] came to be regarded as a [[symbolic]] [[representation]] of the [[living Buddha]] and it is on this basis that there grew up a series of [[offerings]], [[rituals]], and {{Wiki|ceremonies}}. | ||
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| + | These are conducted under the supervision of the two [[Mahanayake]] [[Theros]] of [[Malwatte]], [[Asgiriya]] Chapters, and [[Diyawadana Nilame]] of the [[Maligawa]]. | ||
| − | + | These have a {{Wiki|hierarchy}} of officials and [[temple]] functionaries to perform the services and [[rituals]]. | |
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| − | + | ==Other [[tooth relics]]== | |
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| − | Aside from the relic in Sri Lanka, several relics in other countries are also reputed to be a tooth of the Buddha. | + | Aside from the [[relic]] in [[Sri Lanka]], several [[relics]] in other countries are also reputed to be a tooth of the [[Buddha]]. |
| − | ::*Lingguang Temple (灵光寺) of the Badachu Park in Beijing, China. | + | ::*[[Lingguang Temple]] ([[灵光寺]]) of the Badachu Park in {{Wiki|Beijing}}, [[China]]. |
| − | ::*Buddha Memorial Center (佛陀紀念館) of the Fo Guang Shan Monastery in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. | + | ::*[[Buddha]] Memorial [[Center]])] ([[佛陀紀念館]]) of the [[Fo Guang Shan]] [[Monastery]] in [[Kaohsiung]], [[Taiwan]]. |
| − | ::*Shari-den (舎利殿; reliquary hall) of the Engaku-ji in Kamakura, Japan. | + | ::*[[Shari-den]] ([[舎利殿]]; reliquary hall) of the [[Engaku-ji]] in [[Wikipedia:Kamakura, Kanagawa|Kamakura]], [[Japan]]. |
| − | ::*Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum (佛牙寺龙华院) in Chinatown, Singapore. | + | ::*[[Buddha Tooth Relic]] [[Temple]] and Museum (佛牙寺龙华院) in [[Chinatown]], {{Wiki|Singapore}}. |
| − | ::*Lu Mountain Temple in Rosemead, CA | + | ::*[[Lu Mountain Temple]] in Rosemead, CA |
{{W}} | {{W}} | ||
[[Category:Buddhist Pilgrimages]] | [[Category:Buddhist Pilgrimages]] | ||
Latest revision as of 22:00, 4 April 2016
The Sacred Relic of the tooth of Buddha (Sinhala:දන්ත ධාතුව) (danta dhātuya) is venerated in Sri Lanka as a relic (cetiya) of the founder of Buddhism.
History
The relic in India
According to Sri Lankan legends, when the Lord Buddha died (mahä Parinibbhäna) BC 543, his body was cremated in a sandalwood pyre at Kusinagara in India and his left canine tooth was retrieved from the funeral pyre by Arahat Khema.
Khema then gave it to King Brahmadatte for veneration.
It became a royal possession in Brahmadatte's country and was kept in the city of Dantapuri (present day Puri in Odisha).
A belief grew that whoever possessed the Sacred Tooth Relic had a divine right to rule that land.
Wars were fought to take possession of the relic. 800 years after the Buddha's death, in the 4th century CE, the tooth came into the possession of King Guhaseeva of Kalinga, which roughly corresponds to the present day state of Odisha.
Kalinga had become Buddhist and begun to worship the Sacred Tooth relic.
This caused discontent among some of the citizens, who went to King Paandu and said that King Guhaseeva had stopped believing in god and that he had started to worship a tooth.
King Paandu decided to destroy the relic, and ordered it to be brought to the city.
It is said that, as the tooth arrived at the city, a miracle occurred, and King Paandu converted to Buddhism.
When King Ksheeradara heard of this, he went with his army to attack Paandu in the city of Palalus.
The invaders were defeated before reaching the city, and King Ksheeradara died.
A prince from the city of Udeni who had become a Buddhist came to worship the sacred tooth. King Guhaseeva was pleased with him, and let him marry his daughter.
The prince was known as Dantha and the princess as Hemamala.
When his sons heard that King Ksheeradara had died in the war, they raised a large army to attack King Guhaseeva and destroy the relic.
They entered the city, but King Guhaseeva secretly sent away Dantha and Hemamala with the relic.
The relic in Sri Lanka
According to legend, Hemamala hid the relic in her hair ornament and the royal couple disguised themselves as Brahmins in order to avoid discovery.
They set sail from Tamralipti, a port at the mouth of the river Ganges, and landed in Sri Lanka at the port of Lankapattana (now Ilankeiturei).
It is said that Sri Lanka was chosen as the new home for the tooth relic because the Lord Buddha had declared that his religion would be safe in Sri Lanka for 5000 years.
At the time of Dantha's and Hemamali's arrival on the island, king Kirthi Sri Meghavarna or Kithsirimevan ruled Sri Lanka.
The king was overjoyed when he heard the news and warmly welcomed the royal couple and received the Sacred Tooth Relic with great veneration.
He built a beautiful palace within the royal palace complex itself and enshrined the relic in it.
Thereafter, he ordered that an annual perahera be held in honour of the sacred relic.
As time went on, the land was threatened with foreign invasions (at one of which the king of Pegu offered the Portuguese £50 000 as a ransom of the tooth) and the seat of the kingdom was moved from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa, then to Dambadeniya and other cities. Upon each change of capital, a new palace was built to enshrine the relic.
Finally, it was brought to Kandy where it is at present, in the Temple of the Tooth.
The Sacred Tooth Relic came to be regarded as a symbolic representation of the living Buddha and it is on this basis that there grew up a series of offerings, rituals, and ceremonies.
These are conducted under the supervision of the two Mahanayake Theros of Malwatte, Asgiriya Chapters, and Diyawadana Nilame of the Maligawa.
These have a hierarchy of officials and temple functionaries to perform the services and rituals.
Other tooth relics
Aside from the relic in Sri Lanka, several relics in other countries are also reputed to be a tooth of the Buddha.
- Lingguang Temple (灵光寺) of the Badachu Park in Beijing, China.
- Buddha Memorial Center)] (佛陀紀念館) of the Fo Guang Shan Monastery in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
- Shari-den (舎利殿; reliquary hall) of the Engaku-ji in Kamakura, Japan.
- Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum (佛牙寺龙华院) in Chinatown, Singapore.
- Lu Mountain Temple in Rosemead, CA
