Saved in Sri Lanka

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Kandy

"This, ladies and gents, is one of the most important and renowned sites in Sri Lanka," Sepalika announced with unmistakable pride in her voice. "The Sri Dalada Maligawa, or the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, attracts pilgrims and visitors from all around the island and globe." 

Some of her group nodded and craned their neck, obviously eager to see with their own eyes what they had heard about. Daniel looked all set and raring to go, his small notebook clutched in one hand. 

Sepalika gestured for the group to follow her across the crowded, crow-droppings-spattered square that was bathed in welcome shade by towering, old trees. After splitting up into women and men, they walked up several steps and through an arch. 

She led the group slowly across the brick-paved path lined on both sides by a wide expanse of lawn. To their left were trees and stone walls with a few rooftops of old buildings playing peekaboo. To their right they caught glimpses of the lake with its walkway, obstructed by a high metal fence. 

But what drew their gazes like a magnet was the impressive building looming straight ahead, a palace-like structure in white with ornately carved boundary walls and a hexagonal, pavilion-like tower at the front. 

"The Temple of the Tooth is situated on the grounds of the former royal palace of the capital city where Sri Lanka's last king took refuge. It belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. I will show you the actual palace remains later. For now, let's focus on the temple with its moat and the octagon." 

They walked on, surrounded by an ever-growing number of locals dressed mainly in white and carrying small trays with flower offerings, fragrant incense sticks and tiny earthenware oil lamps. 

"Inside the temple you'll find the shrine room which takes up two floors. I'm sure you've noticed the shiny canopy-style roof of gold. It was added in 1987." 

Sepalika told them more about the temple's construction and layout, and about the tooth relic of the Buddha that had been smuggled to the island from India and kept at many other places before finding its final resting place in this temple. 

Sepalika told her group about the horrendous terrorist attack on the temple in the year 1998. The devastating truck bomb had destroyed the main entrance and part of the shrine room as well as the surrounding, centuries-old temples of the Hindu deities Vishnu, Pattini and Natha. Sixteen people were killed, almost 30 injured. The powerful detonation had damaged numerous buildings in a 5-km-radius. 

They walked up another staircase, their soles burning from the heat the stones had been absorbing all day. There was a glimpse of koi fish and ducks in the water below. Sepalika stopped to buy a small cardboard tray holding pink lotus flowers, and then they entered the actual temple premises, dimly lit and cool. 

"So was the whole complex apart from the modern additions built by one king?" 

Daniel's voice in her ear startled Sepalika, who had silently been worshipping the closed shrine door adorned with gold, silver, ivory and gemstones. 

"No, it's the work of many over the course of time." 

She waved to the rest of the group and led them aside to enter one of the halls holding beautiful Buddha statues and smaller shrines as well as colorful murals depicting scenes from the Buddha's life after enlightenment. 

Sepalika felt Daniel's gaze on her when she left the group behind. Walking over to the tall, regal, quietly magnificent Buddha statue, she dropped to her knees and folded her hands. Her head bent and her eyes closed, she said a small prayer in Pali under her breath and added a silent wish. Getting up, she placed one of the lotus flowers on the table holding many other offerings, and worshipped respectfully once more before returning to her tourists.