Did You Know? Sri Lankan kings couldn't claim the throne without the Sacred Tooth Relic.

Story of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Kandy

The Sacred Tooth Relic is believed to be one of Buddha’s actual teeth — and it’s one of the most respected Buddhist relics in the whole world. This single tooth has a powerful story that’s deeply connected to Sri Lanka’s history, religion, and even its kings.

🌍 How the Tooth Came to Sri Lanka
After Gautama Buddha passed away in India, his body was cremated. From the ashes, his left canine tooth was carefully taken and kept safe.

For many years, the tooth was kept in Kalinga, an ancient kingdom in India. It was treated with great respect.

But in the 4th century AD, Kalinga was in danger of war. To protect the sacred relic, King Guhasiva sent it to Sri Lanka.
Guess how they smuggled it in?

Princess Hemamala hid the tooth in her hair, and along with her husband Prince Dantha, they secretly brought it across the ocean to our island.

When they arrived, King Kirti Sri Megavanna welcomed the relic and kept it in Anuradhapura, which was the capital at that time.

🚗 The Tooth Relic’s Journey Across the Island
As kingdoms in Sri Lanka changed over time, the relic was moved from one capital to another:

From Anuradhapura

To Polonnaruwa

To Dambadeniya

To Kotte

And finally... to Kandy, where it rests today.

Each king built a temple near his palace to keep the relic safe. In fact, it was believed that whoever owned the tooth had the right to rule Sri Lanka. That’s how important it was.

During war times — especially when the Portuguese invaded in the 1600s — the relic was sometimes hidden in secret places to protect it.

The current temple, called the Sri Dalada Maligawa or Temple of the Tooth, was built in the 1700s and is part of Kandy’s royal palace.

🕊️ Why the Tooth Relic Is So Special
👑 Symbol of Power
Back in the day, the tooth wasn’t just a holy item — it meant you had the right to be king. That’s why every ruler wanted to keep it close.

🛕 Most Sacred Relic in Sri Lanka
The tooth is deeply respected by Buddhists, and thousands of people from around the world come to see it or pray near it.

🎉 Big Part of Our Culture
The temple is also home to the Kandy Esala Perahera, one of the most colorful and famous festivals in Sri Lanka.

🌐 A World Heritage Site
Because of its history and beauty, the Temple of the Tooth is now protected by UNESCO as a cultural treasure.

🔒 Today
Today, the Sacred Tooth Relic is kept in a well-guarded shrine inside the temple. It’s only shown to the public on very rare occasions (like this month, after 16 years!).

Every day, monks perform special rituals, and visitors come to pray and offer flowers.

📝 In Summary
The Sacred Tooth Relic isn’t just a part of Sri Lanka’s past — it’s still a big part of who we are today.

Smuggled in by a brave princess, worshipped by kings, and guarded for centuries — this single tooth is more than a relic. It’s a symbol of our faith, culture, and royal history.