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Secondary sourceArtifact1595

Temple of the Tooth

1595

A Buddhist temple in Kandy, Sri Lanka, built to house a relic believed to be the Buddha's tooth, long tied to royal power.

This temple preserves a relic said to be the Buddha's tooth, a lasting symbol of devotion and royal legitimacy.

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A white temple complex with a dark grey tiled roof and a small red-roofed octagonal shrine in front, surrounded by a white perimeter wall with openwork. A yellow, red, and white flag flies from a pole on a lawn, with green forested hills behind and people walking on the grounds.
Temple of the Tooth, built 1595. Kandy, Sri Lanka.

About this source

What it is

The Temple of the Tooth, or Sri Dalada Maligawa, is a Buddhist temple in Kandy, Sri Lanka, built in 1595 within the former royal palace complex. It houses a relic believed to be a tooth of the Buddha.

Why it matters

Since ancient times, the tooth relic has played a major role in Sri Lankan politics, as holding it was believed to grant the right to govern the island. Sinhalese kings historically kept custody of the relic, building temples near their palaces to safeguard it. The temple has also been the target of attacks by militant groups seeking to capture or damage it, showing how deeply the relic remains tied to questions of power and identity in Sri Lanka.

Look closer

  • Why might a physical object like a tooth become so closely linked to political power?
  • What does the temple's long history of royal protection and later attacks tell us about the relic's importance?
  • What rituals described here show how the relic continues to be honored today?

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