The
annual Dalanda Perahara (Esala Perahara) held in honor of the tooth relic of
lord Buddha traces its origins back to the period of king kithsirimewan who was also known by the name of Kirthi Siri Meghawarna. He succeeded
his father Mahasen to the Anuradhapura kingdom and can be fairly
given credit to as the one who brought to light the areas kept in darkness by
his father. His reign was of much significance especially due to the fact that
the sacred tooth relic of the lord Buddha was brought to Sri Lanka during his time.
To elaborate, in honor of the sacred tooth relic, an annual procession called a
Dalanda Perahara had begun by the king. It is said in the Mahavamsa that in the ninth year from his advancement to the
throne, a Brahmin woman brought the tooth relic of the lord Buddha to Sri Lanka
from Kalingu rata and king Kithsirimevan, having it handed over to
him, made offerings to it with high respect which was afterwards placed by him
in a golden reliquary and installed in the house called Damsak built by king Dewanampiyatissa
within Rajaramaya. By then onwards,
that house was known by the name of Datadathugara.
From that time, the king, by spending nine lakhs started the grand Dalanda
procession. He ordered to carry the tooth relic to the Abayagiriya every once a year and to continue with such
processions.
King
Kithsirimewan’s reign was particularly noted for its favorability to Buddha
Sasana in Sri Lanka as he had rightly understood the hostile measures of his
father to the Theravada monks and highly regretted them. Having thus regretted
the damage caused by his father, he took measures to repair all what was put to
the ground by his father Mahasen. For
instance, he repaired Lovamahapaya which
was destroyed during his father’s reign. The king was highly inspired by Mihindu thero who brought Buddhism to
Sri Lanka, on whose behalf he had a statue made of gold in due proportion to
his actual body. Afterwards, it was placed in Amba saya on a Wap poya
day for eight days and in the ninth day he gathered all the Buddhist monastics
within the whole country. Further he released those who were in prisons in the
city and arranged alms giving which was extended to offering alms to the beggars.
Especially he pleased the monks by his provisions of siupasaya. He exhibited
the statue to the public as it reflected the arrival of the Mihindu thero in Sri Lanka.
The
king arranged splendor processions in great respect to the Mihindu statue and
had the city properly decorated. King Kithsirimewan
had a place built to house the statue to which a number of other statues
were added in the same place. The Mahavamsa
mentions that the king with great wisdom assigned a wage to carry on
processions for the statue which was ordered by him to carry out annually. The
king’s religious work even extended to build Aba Vehera, Thisvahap Vehera
not to mention the construction of splendor ramparts. Besides his contribution
to the initiation of Dalanda Perahara
the king is also known for his kindness for animals which was shown through his
provisions to construct tanks by mercy for animals. Thus, king Kithsirimewan had collected immense merits by the time he died. On these grounds, the king can be fairly
introduced as the one who brought to light the facets in Buddha Sasana which
was kept in darkness by his father Mahasen.
Mrs. Karunarathne,
University of Peradeniya,
Sri Lanka
References.
Wimalajothi, Ven., (ed.), Mahavamsa, Buddhist cultural
center, Boralasgamuwa, 2003
Photo - 1876 Perahara Festival Kandy Ceylon
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