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| Image by Musthaq Nazeer from Pixabay |
-**Kandy-**
-**Also known as Maha Nuvara in Sinhala and Kandi in Tamil. major city in Sri Lanka’s Central Province. Nestled amidst hills on the Kandy plateau, this administrative and religious hub has a rich historical legacy. Let’s explore its past, architectural marvels, and spiritual significance.
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| Image by harsha baddragi from Pixabay |
-**Historical Origins-**
-**Kandy was the last capital of the ancient kings’ era in Sri Lanka. Its roots trace back to various names—Senkadagala , Senkadagalapura , and officially, Senkadagala Siriwardhana Maha Nuwara (meaning ‘great city of Senkadagala of growing resplendence’). Folklore suggests that the name originated from a brahmin named Senkanda who lived in a nearby cave. Another theory ties it to Queen Senkanda or a colored stone named Senkadagala.
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| Image by Kanishka Ranasinghe from Pixabay |
-**The Kingdom of Kandy
-**The English name “Kandy” emerged during colonial times , derived from the Sinhala phrase Kanda Uda Rata (meaning “the land on the mountain”) or Kanda Uda Pas Rata (the five counties/countries on the mountain). Kandy resisted Portuguese , Dutch , and British colonial expansion, preserving its cultural identity.
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| Image by Mohamed Nuzrath from Pixabay |
-**Cityscape and Culture
-**Kandy Lake: The picturesque Kandy Lake , surrounded by lush greenery, adds to the city’s charm. Esala Perahera: Kandy hosts the grand Esala Perahera festival, featuring vibrant processions, traditional dances, and decorated elephants.
-**Temple of the Tooth Relic-**
-**The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic , nestled within the Royal Palace Complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, stands as a testament to Sri Lanka’s rich Buddhist heritage. This revered temple houses the relic of Gautama Buddha’s tooth, making it a pilgrimage site for Buddhists worldwide. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country. The relic was historically held by Sinhalese kings. The temple of the tooth is a World Heritage Site mainly due to the temple and the relic. Bhikkhus of the two particular chapters, the Malwathu chapters and Asgiri chapters, conduct daily worship in the inner chamber of the temple. Rituals are performed three times daily: at dawn, at noon and in the evenings.
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| Image by Sachinthaka Serasinghe from Pixabay |
-**Historical Origins
-**After the Maha parinirvana of Gautama Buddha , legend
has it that the sacred tooth relic was preserved in Kalinga. Princess Hemamali
and Prince Dantha, embarked on a perilous journey to smuggle the relic to Sri
Lanka. She ingeniously concealed the relic in her hair during their voyage.
Upon their arrival, they handed over the precious relic to King Guhasiva, who
enshrined it in Meghagiri Vihara (now known as Isurumuniya) in Anuradhapura.
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| Image by Sachinthaka Serasinghe from Pixabay |
-**Symbol of Authority
-**Over time, the custodianship of the tooth relic became
synonymous with the right to rule the island. Sinhalese kings recognized its
significance, and thus, tooth relic temples were built near their royal
residences. This tradition persisted through the Anuradhapura Kingdom, Kingdom
of Polonnaruwa, and Kingdom of Dambadeniya.
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| Photo by Matt Dany on Unsplash |
-**The Temple’s Architecture
-**Location: Situated in Kandy, the temple follows the Chinese Buddhist architectural style of the Tang dynasty, with subtle influences from Japanese and Tibetan Buddhism.Relic’s Discovery: The temple’s name derives from the relic of Buddha, discovered in a collapsed stupa.Daily Rituals: Bhikkhus from the Malwathu and Asgiri chapters conduct worship three times a day—dawn, noon, and evening.Nanumura Mangallaya: On Wednesdays, a symbolic bathing of the relic occurs using scented water and fragrant flowers. This holy water is believed to possess healing powers.
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| Photo by Chathura Anuradha Subasinghe on Unsplash |
-**UNESCO World Heritage Site
-**Designated a World Heritage Site in -**1988, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic continues to inspire awe and reverence. The temple was attacked in 1989 by the militant organization Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP); it had the intention of capturing the relic. And in 1998 by the militant organization Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE); this attack damaged the front side of the royal palace. Although damaged by terrorist , it has been meticulously restored, preserving this heritage.
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| Photo by Yves Alarie on Unsplash |
-**Other places related to Kandy-**.
-**Bahiravokanda Vihara Buddha Statue -**
-**It is located in Bahirawakanda, approximately 2 km (1.2 mi) from the city centre. The temple is known for its giant Buddha statue. The statue of Buddha is depicted in the position of the Dhyana Mudra, the posture of meditation associated with his first Enlightenment , and can be seen from almost everywhere in Kandy. It stands at 26.83 m (88.0 ft) high and is one of the tallest Buddha statues in Sri Lanka.
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| By Price Zero |
-**Lankatilaka Vihara-**
-**Lankatilaka Vihara is a Buddhist temple situated in Udunuwara of Kandy , Sri Lanka. It is located on Daulagala road approximately 4 km (2.5 mi) away from Pilimatalawa junction and a few kilometres from the buddhist temple, Gadaladeniya Vihara. It is considered the most magnificent architectural edifice created during the Gampola era. The history of the temple goes back to the 14th century. According to historical reports this temple was built during the time of King Bhuvanekabahu IV, who reigned from 1341 to 1351 A.D.
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| Photo by Gihan Tharindu |
-**Gadaladeniya Vihara-**
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| By Cherubino |
-**Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya-**
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| Image by Nikky Smolders from Pixabay |
-**In Kandy’s heart, where lush greenery meets ancient stones, the sacred tooth relic remains a beacon of faith—a reminder of impermanence and enlightenment. If you ever get a chance to visit Sri Lanka I strongly advise you to visit Kandy & Dalada Maligawa to see for yourself.