Washington sentinel., 1899-04-08
- 80, SENTINEL
The Holy Tooth of handy.

said to haV9 been stolen by the
Portuguese. and burned at Goa in
1860. There is, however, tooth
at Handy kept in precious casket,
religiously worshipped and ieal-
ously guarded, though said by
some 10 have a strong resemblance
to the dental appendage OF a croco.
dilel The temple in which the
tooth is kept is especially venerated
so much so that pilgrims come
from all parts to worship at the
shrine. Service is held regularly
at am. and sunset, and offerings
OF flowers are made by the devout
thrice daily. Towards dusk we
made our way to the white pictur-
esque building, which was sur
rounded by dozens of unclean beg
gars, and tom which issued the
monotonus sounds of throbbing
tom toms and shrill whistles, re-
sembling to our uninltiated minds
nothing so much as the prelimi'
nary hourishes OF a Punch and
Judy show. On reaching the tenn
pie, we found crowds OF worship
pers making their way in, laden
with freshly gathered flowers to
place before the holy tooth oil Bud
dha. Oil lamps were haring on
every side and casting weird shad-
ows, the noise of tom-toms was
deafening, the odor OF flowers hung
heavily in the air. We seemed to
be in a dream as we followed
closely on the heels OF our tall,
white Tobed, black eyed guide,
who directed US only with his
hands as we could not have heard
him speak If he had tried! Sud-
denly the tom.toms fourished
forth into loud, long, last burst
oil enthusiasm. 1t was the grand
finale. Then the sacred music
ceased, much to our secret salts
faction, and hum Of excitement
burst forth from the waiting crowd
as three priests with sandalled feet,
the usual yellow robes and palm
leaf fans, came from a side en-.
trance, preceded by the key keeper
in his gorgeous robes and Kandyan
hat, and followed by the veriest
rabble Of miscellaneous worship
pers it is possible to imagine. We
brought up the rear of this strange
procession, which made, with hur-
rying footsteps, and with no pre-
tence to dignity, towards the chief
entrance Of the sacred shrine, the
door OF which is composed OF silver,
ivory, and copper. Inside this
door leading up to the precious
casket were silver lamps upon sill
yer lamps, and flowers upon flow
ers. Three doors must be passed
before the object of devotion is
reached, and as each door was
opened we saw more lamps all
burning brightly, and more flow
ers; the scent was overpowering
AT length the holy casket was in
full view. surrounded by blaze Of
candles, and a wealth OF flowers.
This casket contains the tooth OF
the great Buddha, and is a mass OF
gold and precious stones worth
countless sums OF money. The
picturesque white clad people
thronged round, and stood with
arms outstretched and full Of flow
ers, and then they knelt, and
touched the ground with their fore
heads, and raise d the flowers high
above their heads. Their evident
devotion was wonderful, and pa
thetic TO behold. The flowers that
are placed before the shrine are
not put in water but heaped up in
careless profusion on tray-like
receptacles, and as they fade they
are replaced BY others. We could
not help thinking what a pattern
such devotion is to us, who adorn
our altars only on Sundays and
Saints Days, whereas these people
simply clamor to place their freshly
gathered offerings thrice every day
before-a Buddha's tooth!
The yellow robed priests were
quick to observe our presence. and
without loss OF time handed US
box for aims, and they seemed very
pleased with our donations.
Among the many adornments OF
the place was lamp hanging be-
fore the chiei entrance to the
shrine, a gift from the Prince OF
Wales. We left the temple while
the Buddhists were still at their
devotions, and passed by old men
and women busy with their rosar-
les, and little children, their arms
full of flowers. waiting their turn.
We also met many belated wor-
shippers hurryIng along with trays
and baskets full OF floral gifts. Out
side the temple the path was lined
with the halt and the blind and the
manned, all begging in the most
persistent way Tor charity from the
religious Buddhists as we'll as the
English heathen. Clearly all was
fish that came to their nett
Although the sacred molar OF
Lord Buddha is so devoredly wOr-
shipped every day in the year,it is
at only one season that it is exhib-
tied to the naked eye. This is at
the Perahera festival, which takes
place in August, and it is indeed a
gala time in Handy. All the
sacred elephants, which for the
rest ofthe year are allowed to bask
in the sunshine and enjoy them
selves, are decked up in gorgeouJ
fashion with jewels and gold Iap.
pings and made to take = omlnent
part in the grand prc1-essions and
general rejoicing. wnicn are the
order Of the ~, and the Singhal
GO P,Jdl-sr who is not present on