The first Temple of the Tooth in Polonnaruwa
About first Temple of the Tooth
Numerous Temples of the Tooth have been underlying Sri Lanka from that point forward to house the Sacred Tooth Relic, known as the apex of the country. The Tooth Relic went to our country during the rule of King Kithsirimevan. From that time onwards structures were raised for the Tooth Relic in Anuradhapura, then, at that point, in Polonnaruwa and afterward in every one of the realms that spread over the realm up to the Kandy time. Of these, the Polonnaruwa time frame was exceptional, after Anuradhapura the realm moved to Polonnaruwa. Cree. ව. Lord Vijayaba I who administered from 1055 to 1110 set up the realm of Polonnaruwa. The Atadageya worked by him was the principal Temple of the Tooth in Polonnaruwa, thus the Atadageya was a vital old site. This is viewed as the most seasoned enduring structure in Polonnaruwa.
Atadageya
The Atadage is situated in the Dalada Maluwa in Polonnaruwa. Atadage, Vatadage and Hatadage are situated in a similar region. There are a few motivations to consider this the Atadageya, as it was inherent eight days. Another thought is that it was called Atadage in light of the fact that there were 8 relics including the Tooth Relic. The state of the octagon is elongated. Its length is around 75 feet. It has two sections called the structure and the nave.
The initial segment of the structure has various stone columns and the 6 columns in the center are designed with lovely carvings. Among these carvings, the “Kalpa Tree” is a show-stopper. Punkalasa, scrolls, female figures, human figures, bird figures, bantam figures, bloom leaf carvings and so on have been utilized for these carvings. The carvings on the stone columns between the dividers are not noticeable. 54 stone columns can in any case be seen here. Around then the Atadage was a two story building. The ground floor was made of stone columns and blocks and the upper floor is accepted to have been made of wood. The upper floor isn’t noticeable as of now and the stone flight of stairs utilized for it actually remains. The ground floor is utilized as the Buddha sculpture house and the upper floor is accepted to have been utilized to house the “Tooth Relic”. Numerous admirers went ground floor, and it is accepted that the lord and different priests utilized the upper floor to revere the Tooth Relic. In the internal part called the “Garbha Grihaya” which is seen on the ground floor, there is a Buddha sculpture which is by and by remaining there and it is somewhat demolished. This Selmuwa Buddha sculpture was the principle Buddha sculpture here around then. There are additionally signs that there were a few different sculptures here.
During the rule of King Vijayabaha, unique contributions were made to this Buddha sculpture, like the yearly Eye Restoration Festival. It is likewise conceivable that various Buddhist celebrations, including the yearly ‘Dalada Mahotsava’, were held here. It is conceivable that every one of the ceremonies that are acted in the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy today were acted in this Atadage during the Polonnaruwa time frame.
Dam-molded engraving
The upward stone piece to one side of the Atadage is a dammed engraving. This engraving, written in Tamil content, is a vital one. The engraving states that King Vijayabahu had attempted to fabricate the Atadage with the assistance of Tamil soldiers brought from South India and that it was the sole liability of the dammed armed force to ensure the Atadage.
It uncovers different realities about the rule of King Vijayabaha during the rule of Atadage and the individuals who stepped up and worked for it. As per the illustrious announcement, the dammen are focused on the propagation of the Atadagai and in the event that anybody acts against it, it would be an incredible insolence to the Buddha Sasana and they dislike it by any means. The other central matter uncovered by this was the confidence in public solidarity around then.
There is an exceptional picture on a marginally higher base before the Atadage. It is known as the Bodhi creature picture. Others say that it might have been a picture of King Vijayabahu or King Nissanka Malla. It is likewise vital that the sculpture is intended to gaze straight toward the fundamental Buddha sculpture of Atada.
