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Sacred relic of Gautama Buddha
The relic of the tooth of Buddha (Palidanta dhātuya) is venerated in Sri Lanka as a sacred cetiyarelic of the Buddha, who is the founder of Buddhism, the fourth largest religion worldwide.
History
The four teeth are among the undispersed relics. There are 40 dental relics in the mouth of the Blessed One. According to the Mahāparinibbāna Sutta, apart from the four teeth, the remaining 36 teeth, hair relics, and skin hair relics are numerous. Carried by the deities who came from the universe, at the time of cremation after the offering of the Buddha. According to sources, only one relic was carried per universe.
The four teeth among the unscattered relics are called "canine". There are four teeth in a canine. These four teeth are slightly sharper than the other teeth. Therefore, some people call these teeth "hunting teeth" in common usage. The four fangs were much whiter than the others. Bright streams of light radiated from the four fangs. They are called "Datha Prabha". The four teeth can be seen clearly only when the Almighty smiles.
The Main Four Tooth relics of Gautama Buddha
According to The Mahāparinibbāna Sutta, there are only 4 Tooth Relics in this world. They are Left Upper Canine Tooth, Left Lower Canine Tooth, Right Upper Canine Tooth, Right Lower Canine Tooth. Because, apart from the four canine teeth, the remaining 36 teeth, hair relics, and skin hair relics are numerous were carried by the deities who came from the universe, at the time of cremation after the offering of the Buddha. According to sources, only one relic was carried per universe.
Left Tooth Relic (Left Lower Canine)-The Tooth Relic of Kandy,Sri Lanka
According to Mahavamsa-Great Chroniacl of Sri Lanka(as a World Heritage Book by UNESCO) and Dāṭhāvaṃsa-Great Chronical of Sacred Tooth Relics of Buddha, when the Buddha died in 543 BC, his body was cremated in a sandalwood pyre at Kushinagar and his left canine tooth was retrieved from the funeral pyre by his disciple, 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 Dantapura (modern Dantapuram). A belief grew that whoever possessed the tooth relic had a divine right to rule that land. The Dāṭhāvaṃsa recounts the tale of a war fought over the relic 800 years later between Guhasiva of the republic of Kalinga and a king named Pandu.
Legend states the Abhayagiri vihāra was first appointed custodianship of the relic when it was brought to the island after the conflict in Kalinga. As time went on, the land was threatened with foreign invasions, 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.
Scholar Charles Boxer, however, claimed that the tooth was "publicly pounded to smithereens with a mortar and pestle by the Archbishop of Goa" as one of the results of the Church's attempt to eradicate native religions . The relic came to be regarded as a symbolic representation of the 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 Mahanayakas 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.
Left Tooth Relic (Left Upper Canine)-Tooth relic of Gandhara
After the Buddha died, Sri Deha was cremated. It is said that the remaining relics were distributed among the kings by a Brahmin named Drona.Drona Brahmin hid the Buddha's left upper tooth between his clothes while distributing the relics. Seeing how the tooth was hidden in the garment, a resident from Gandhara who had done great merits took the tooth with a mind of merit and went to his country along with the Gandhara people. It is not possible to say exactly where the left upper tooth relic of Sarvajna, who came to Gandhara, is now, because there is not much information about it.
Right Tooth Relic (Right Upper Canine)-Tooth Relic of Silumini Stupa in Heaven of Tawtisa
During the distribution of the relics, the Lord of the two worlds, God Sakra, did not see the Buddha's right tooth and asked, "Who took the right tooth of the Omniscient One?" When the priests saw that Drona Bamuna, who distributed the relics, had taken them and kept them hidden in the Jatava, they asked, "Is he capable of serving these relics?" It was looked at. Knowing that it was not possible there, he thought, "I will take the relic from him" and created a very delicate hand, took the relic without him noticing, placed it in a golden casket, placed it on the top of his head, took it to the heaven, buried it in Silumini Stupa and performed the ritual.
Right Tooth Relic (Right Lower Canine)-Tooth Relic of Somawathiya Rajamaha Viharaya, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka
On hearing that the Blessed One had passed away, Naraju Jayasena of the Naga world became very sad and thought, "I will see Lord Buddha for the last time and worship him." During the distribution of relics, Jayasena Naraju saw how Drona Bamuna threw down the other right tooth and covered it with his foot. Unbeknownst to him, he took the tooth from Ridi and took it to the Naga Bhavan, built a gem in the middle of the Naga Pura, placed the right tooth there and performed great sacrifices.
Somawathiya Chaitya, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka
During the reign of King Kavantissa of Sri Lanka, Mahinda, who was a student of Mahadeva Maha Thera, went to Naga Bhava and took Buddha's right tooth and went to Sri Lanka. The local king named Giri Abhaya treasured the right tooth that Mahinda Thera had and made a stupa now known as the "Somawatiya Stupa".
Other Tooth Relics which are believed to be Buddha Tooth Relics
Aside from the two Tooth relics in Sri Lanka, several relics in other countries are also reputed to be a tooth-relic of the Buddha. A 2024 survey found that 32 museums and temples claimed to hold one or more of the tooth-relics.
But the important thing is that the relics in Kandy, Sri Lanka, have been requested to be given to them by various countries.Especially many Southeast Asian countries and West Asian countries such as China.Then the kings of Sri Lanka sent the created Tooth relics(Made of material like ivory, wood) to those countries instead of the real Tooth relic of Kandy.This is done to prevent those countries from getting angry with the kings of Sri Lanka and causing wars.According to the Mahavamsa -Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka and Datavamsa-Great Chronicle of Tooth Relics;The Tooth relics created by Sri Lankan Kings in this way have been sent to those countries more than five times.But the kings of Sri Lanka never gave the real Tooth Relic to those countries.This Tooth Relic is currently in Temple of the Tooth,Kandy.
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