Historic, religious splendour of low country

Sri Dalada Perahera of Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte:

A.M. Gunawardhana

An event of great cultural and historic significance takes place annually in the hill capital of Sri Lanka in the month of Esala. This is followed by several such events right throughout the country. One such event is the historic Sri Dalada Perahera of Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte Raja Maha Viharaya held in memory of and to pay obeisance to the Sacred Tooth Relic as the kingdom of Kotte was once the abode of the Sacred Tooth Relic.

The Dalada Perahera has a long history. It dates back to the time it was brought to Sri Lanka during the reign of King Kithsiri Mewan also known as Kirthi Sri Meghawanna (303-331). Kithsiri Mevan is the grandson of Gotabhaya and son of King Mahasen the builder of the Minneriya tank who is worshipped as ‘Minneriya Deiyo’.

The arrival

The Dalada was brought to Sri Lanka concealed in the tresses of Princess Hemamala, daughter of King Guhaseeva of Kalinga, accompanied by her husband Prince Dantha whose father was the King of Udeni. The prince and his party were disguised as Brahmins and disembarked at the Illangathurai Harbour in the Kottiar Pattu of Trincomalle. It was then known as Lanka Patuna and the oldest temple was Samudragiri Viharaya, the fate of which is worth examining. This was destroyed by terrorists and a Kovil was built at this site. Now the Army has built a Dagaba at the site and is now open for public worship.

The King who received the good news overcame with joy, and paid homage to Sacred Tooth Relic by offering the whole island of Sri Lanka to the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha. At that moment, radiant rays depicting the colours of the Buddhist flag scattered over the area followed by many wonderful events.

The Sacred Tooth Relic was taken to the capital Anuradhapura deposited in a casket made of precious stones and placed it in an elaborately constructed Dalada Maligawa close to his own palace for protection. Foreign Buddhist Monks Fa Hien and Hiu San who bear witness to this has also reported the same. The King held a festival to honour the Sacred Tooth Relic and ordered that similar festivals should be held annually. The possession of the Sacred Tooth Relic was transferred from Megagiri to Abhayagiri for obeisance and this could be mentioned as the beginning of the Dalada Perahera.

These annual festivals were followed by all the kings and it became part of their duty to do so. The people believed that the person who possessed the Sacred Tooth Relic was the king of the country as such it became a symbol of royalty.

The Sacred Tooth Relic is intimately woven with the history of Sri Lanka. It is said that when there was a drought during King Upatissa’s reign in 370 A.D., he led a procession with a gold image of the Buddha, a bowl of relics and the Sacred Tooth Relic and it brought down rain ending a severe drought. The same event occurred during the rule of the British invaders where the country experienced a severe drought and the reason adduced was failing to hold the annual Perahera as the British rulers ordered our people not to hold the Perahera.

Miracle

After great persuasion, permission had been given mockingly on condition that if no rains came further permission will not be granted. However, after the Perahera, there had been torrential rain, which led to severe floods and after that the Britishers never refused permission to hold the Perahera and the water which poured from the heavens for weeks was known as Dalada Wathura.

With the Chola invasion, King Mahinda (982-1029) was killed and the Bhikkhus evacuated the Sacred Tooth Relic to Ruhuna. Prince Keerthi who overcame Chola invaders and became King. He was known as Maha Vijayabahu (1055-1110) and continued the Sinhalese Dynasty. King Keerthi Sri Nissanka Malla (1187-1198) realized the bondage between the Buddhists and the Sacred Tooth Relic and he constructed a palace at Polonnaruwa out of granite with intricate carvings to place the Sacred Tooth Relic and it is said that the work was completed within 60 hours.

When Magha, the Chola invaded Sri Lanka again, the Sacred Tooth Relic was taken to Pusulpitiya Raja Maha Viharaya at Kotmale for safety. Magha blinded and killed Parakrama Pandu (1212-1215) who was the ruler at that time.

Golden Era

King Vijayabahu III defeated Magha and reigned from Dambadeniya and brought the Sacred Relic to Dambadeniya. After him, his son Parakramabahu II became King. During his reign, the Sacred Tooth Relic had performed a miracle as stated in the Mahavamsa.

“The Sacred Relic rose to the sky like a ray of the moon from the hand of the king which depicted a lotus, exhibited the true image of the Buddha with several rays of resplendent colours emanating from the Buddha image lighting the entire vicinity bringing immense happiness to the king, came down from the sky and settled on the hand of the king”. From Dambadeniya, the Sacred Tooth Relic was taken to Yapahuwa. From there to Kurunegala, Gampola and then in 1415 it came to Kotte during the reign of King Parakramabahu VI (1415-1472). He ruled the country from the Kingdom of Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte.

His era is known as the ‘Golden Era’ of literature. Several books of great repute were written during his rule as he encouraged scholars to write such books. Many of invaluable books of literature such as Lo veda Sangarawa, Elu Attanagalu Wanshaya, Chula Bodhi, Wanshaya, Hansa Sandeshaya, Kokila Sandeshaya, Gira Sand-eshaya, Selalihini Sand-eshaya, Parevi Sandeshaya, Kavya Shekeraya, Guttilaya, Perakumba Siritha, Kuweni Asna, Daham Geta Malaya, Wayanthi Malaya by great scholars such as Ven. Weedagama Maitriya Thera and Weedamaga Thri Sinhala Kavithilleke.

The Kotte Perahera was started in 1415 by Perakumba VI under the auspices of Ven. Weedagama Thera with the participation of about 500 caparisoned elephants. It had paraded a road which was 30 feet in width and eight feet in height constructed on the rampart. The reign of Kotte which began in 1372 with reign of King Buvenekabahu V (1372-1408) ended in 1697 during the reign of Don Juan Dharmapala (1550-1597) who was a puppet king under Portuguese.

Rediscovered

The abandoned kingdom was swallowed by thick jungle and later rediscovered in 1813 by Ven. Pilane Buddha Rakkitha Nayake Thera. The Thera discovered the ruins of the present Kotte Raja Maha Viharaya. From that day, the temple rose from its ashes. The temple is presently the Headquarters of Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagri Dharma Maha Sangha Sabha where the annual ordination of Bhikkhus takes place in the famous Phoya Ge.

The Perahera was started in 1901 by Ven. Embulgama Wimalatissa, Thera. Today, it is the leading cultural pageant of historical significance in the low country. The support to make the perahera a success is shouldered by residents of Kotte, Mirihana, Pagoda and Beddagana. Well wishers throughout the country help in many ways to conduct the Perahera successfully.

The Perahera begins with the chanting of Seth Pirith on August 17 and then the kap planting ceremony is held at an auspicious time.

This is a vow made to the gods promising to hold a Kumbal perahera, three Mal peraheras, Pavada perahera, Weedi perahera, Randoli perahera, Maha perahera and Diya Keppema perahera.

The final perahera to be held today is the gem in the crown of the entire pageant decorated by several caparisoned elephants. The entire surroundings reverberate with the sounds of low country, upcountry, sabaragamuwa drums and also the rhythmic beat of kavadi drums adds an electrifying atmosphere to the neighbourhood. The tinkling of bells jingling anklets, twinkling lights enhance the beat of drums. Dancers of all hues from upcountry, low country and Sabaragamuwa add colour and rhythm to the entire perahera.

Water cutting ceremony

The Diya Kepeema is performed at Etul Kotte on the waters of Diyawanna Oya and all rituals related to the Perahera is performed by Chief Kapu Mahattaya A.D. Chandrasena and his followers. Thereafter, the kap plant is sent floating down the river.

After the ceremony, residents of Etulkotte, under the guidance of the Chief Priest of Perakumba Pirivena named after the legendary King Perakumba VI and the members of the Dayaka Sabha offer a Deva Dana to those who call over at the temple including those participated in the Perahera to invoke merits to gods.

After the Deva Dana the Perahera returns to the Raja Maha Viharaya, Bo Maluwa bringing the water obtained from Diyawanna Oya, after the water-cutting ceremony.

From the Bo Maluwa, the casket containing the relics is carried in procession by the Secretary and Assistant Secretary of the Dayaka Sabha and is placed in the Maligawa.

The sacred ornaments brought in the Perahera which follow the casket is placed in respective Devalayas after performing the rituals. All rituals related to the Perahera is performed by the Chief Kapumahattaya, and his assistants under the guidance of Ven. Aluthnuwara Anuruddha Thera.

Finally, the Gara yak Shantiya is performed to drive away all evil and to bless the Nayaka Thera. Resident Theras, all members of the Dayaka Sabha, all those who participated in the perahera and the residents of Kotte, Pagoda, Mirihana and Beddagana. All ceremonies are conducted under the guidance of Chief incumbent Ven. Aluthnuwara Anuruddha Thera.

He is given all assistance by the resident Bhikkus led by Ven. Pandit Pitigala Jinasiri Thera.

The writer is Assistant

Secretary, Kotte Rajamaha Vihara Dayaka Sabha.