Diyawadana Nilame of the Temple of the Tooth

 Diyawadana Nilame

In every Esala Perahera we see the Diyawadana Nilame dressed in traditional Kandyan attire and marching in the glory of the Dalada Perahera. Also, the Diyawadana Nilame is with state leaders and foreign diplomats when they come to pay homage to the Tooth Relic. Most people do not know what the Diyawadana Nilame is really doing. This month we are trying to find out that fact.

Lay Trustee of the Temple of the Tooth

The key to the first of the seven coffins in which the Tooth Relic resides is in the custody of the Diyawadana Nilame. That is because he is the lay guardian of the Tooth Relic. He is responsible for the daily rituals of the Temple of the Tooth as well as the annual ceremonies. It is the duty of the Diyawadana Nilame to look after the responsibilities of the palace property as well as the duties performed properly. There is no mention of a post called Diyawadana Nilame in historical books. It is first found in the book of poetry called Dunuwila Hatana written during the Kandyan period.

Nilame's dress

Diyawadana Nilame's official dress is considered to be the original Kandyan dress. This original dress is made of forty-three yards of fabric, each taking twelve yards for the thuppottiya, the tattoo, the somana and the kavaniya. The traditional original dress consists of fourteen parts. He is dressed in white as he walks in the procession. Randoli procession is decorated in gold or a suitable color. The original dress was woven of gold thread.

                             Dressed in Kandyan original attire and marching in procession

Nilame who gave water to the king

During the Kandyan Kingdom there were three Diyawadana Nilames called Maha Diyawadana Nilame, Pallewahala Diyawadana Nilame and Diyawadana Nilame of the Temple of the Tooth. The duty of the Maha Diyawadana Nilame was to supply water to the king for all needs. Maha Diyawadana Nilame was the officer in charge of Ulpange of King Rajasala. The Maha Diyawadana Nilame was also in charge of raising the water from the golden mound when the king ate.

He may also have served on the pavilion. After bathing the king, he assisted in undressing, shaving the king's head, and anointing him. A man loyal to the king has been appointed for this purpose. Since that post was created for the Tooth Relic, a post of Diyawadana Nilame has been created in the Temple of the Tooth. Probably because the Tooth Relic was also considered a king. This post is also known as Diya Nilame. Pallewahala Diyawadana Nilame performed the duties of queens and princes.

History stories

Sources for the official name of Diyawadana Nilame date back to the Kandyan period. The Datavamsa mentions a position called "Dhaturakkakadhikari" regarding the Tooth Relic. Legend has it that it was the Diyawadana Nilame of Hiripitya who hid the Tooth Relic and fled when it was threatened by the Portuguese during the Kotte period. Dambadeniya Asne is mentioned as Diyawadannoya, Salu Wadannoya etc.

According to Prof. Anuradha Seneviratne, the Diyawadana Nilame himself had been entrusted with the task of dipping water into the King 's hands before performing the rituals of the Tooth Relic, as well as pouring water and Nanu for the Tooth Relic. Dr. Charles Godakumbure speculates that there was a Minister in charge of water before the Kandyan period. The people believed that the Tooth Relic had the power to provide rain from time to time and to bring prosperity and prosperity to the country. The Tooth Relic is also considered a symbol of monarchy. He further points out that based on this belief, the kings paid special attention to water development and created a special position for it. Dr. Godakumbure speculates that this post of Minister of Water Development may have become the Diyawadana Nilame by the Kandy era.

Former Diyawadana Nilames

Adikaram of Kapuwatta - 1814-1824

Dehigama Loku Bandara - 1825-1827

Little Molligoda - 1827-1828

Kuda Dehigama - 1828-1835

Mullegama Adikaram - 1835-1842

Dullewa Adikaram - 1842-1848

Loku Bandara Dehigama - 1848-1862

Kuda Banda Dunuwila - 1862-1882

Kuda Mudiyanse Giragama - 1882-1897

Seneviratne Ratwatte - 1897-1901

Kuda Bandara Nugawela - 1901-1916

Punchi Banda Nugawela - 1916-1937

Tikiri Banda Ratwatte - 1937-1947

Kuda Banda Nugawela - 1947-1961

Harris Lewke Ratwatte - 1961-1964

Heenbanda Udurawana - 1964-1974

Dr. Nissanka Parakrama Wijeyeratne - 1975-1985

Neranjan Priyadarshana Dullewa - 1985-2005

Pradeep Nilanga Dela - From 2005 to date

How to appoint Diyawadana Nilame?

During the reign of the king, the king has chosen an Adikaram as the Diyawadana Nilame of the Temple of the Tooth. Adikaram of Kapuwatta held the post of Diyawadana Nilame until 1815 when the Kandyan Kandyan rule was taken over by the English. He was appointed to that post in 1814. Adikaram of Kapuwatta held that position until 1824. It was during his time that the Kandyan Uprising of 1818 took place. The Tooth Relic which was kept in the Temple of the Tooth at that time was hidden by the Wariyapala Thero and fled. The English later arrested him and found the Tooth Relic. In 1876, the British rulers introduced a voting system for the appointment of the Diyawadana Nilame of the Temple of the Tooth through a legal process. The gentlemen of the country also got the right to vote under this system which was implemented in the districts of the Central Province.

The Chief Incumbents of Malwatta and Asgiriya, the Trustees of Buddhist temples around Kandy with an annual income of over Rs. These officers must be Buddhists. The term of office of the Diyawadana Nilame is 10 years.

Since Adikaram in Kapuwatta, 19 Diyawadana Nilames have held this post. The 19th Diyawadana Nilame is Pradeep Nilanga Dela Diyawadana Nilame who was appointed in 2005. Pradeep Nilanga Diyawadana Nilame was appointed to the post for the second time in 2015.

According to the Temples and Shrines Ordinance No. 19 of 1931, the English have taken steps to make the election of the Diyawadana Nilame more formal. The constituency was expanded to cover the former Kandyan Kingdom area. Their Divisional Secretaries, Rajamaha Viharaya Trustees and Basnayake Nilames were given the right to vote. Until then the term of office of the Diyawadana Nilame was limited to 10 years. If he can compete again, there is a possibility of re-appointment and it is mandatory for the applicant to be below 70 years of age.

The role of Diyawadana Nilame today

During the Kandyan Kingdom, the Tooth Relic was in the custody of the King. English Cr. 1853 The lay custody of the Tooth Relic was transferred to the Diyawadana Nilame. Many of the roles of the Diyawadana Nilame were then transformed into what they are today. He is also considered as the lay guardian of the Temple of the Tooth. The Diyawadana Nilame works with the chief incumbents of the Malwathu and Asgiriya Maha Viharayas to provide security for the Sacred Tooth Relic, hold the Golden Key of the Sacred Tooth Relic and hold exhibitions of the Sacred Tooth Relic. He should also provide the necessary facilities to the Thevakaraka Bhikkus to continue the traditional rituals performed for the Tooth Relic. Appointing and directing the officers of the Temple of the Tooth, conducting ceremonies including the four annual weddings, securing and controlling the movable and immovable property of the Temple of the Tooth, renovating the Temple of the Tooth, appointing staff to the Temple of the Tooth, taking proper control and disciplinary action etc. Belong to the duties of. Diyawadana Nilame will present the memorandum to the President at the President's House in Kandy after the conclusion of the Perahera.

Sources:

sridaladamaligawa.com

History and Culture of the Sacred Tooth Relic - Prof. Kumburugamuwe Vajira Thero

W.G.Kasu Kumara Jayathissa

Department of Library Studies, 

University of Kelaniya.

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