The association of elephants with Buddhism dates back to the beginning of Buddhism. Elephants are associated with the stories of the life of Buddha such as the conception of Prince Siddhartha and featured in a number of Jataka tales. The taming of elephants in Asia dates back centuries.The Asian elephant is considered an auspicious animal and signifies good fortune. They were used as one of the four-fold armies (chariots, elephants, cavalry and infantry) throughout history.
Enjoying the playful Interplay among elephants is an inherent element in Sinhala culture. Even the good omen of the Price Siddarth’s birth was dreamt by the Queen Mahamaya as the entrance of a white baby elephant into her womb. The souls of elephants and tuskers; and the merit of donating elephants are common in the Bosath stories of completing transcendental perfections (Paramitha). The relationship in between humans and elephants is evident on Buddhist religious and cultural backgrounds in Sri Lanka and could be observed extending from
Moonstones, brass carvings to Daru carvings of Ammabakka Dewalaya. The good fortune of elephant is depicted from the frescoes in the temple to the King’s royal elephant.
The privilege of carrying the Tooth Relic is only given only to a carefully selected elite tusker. No matter how humongous the tusker is, he is carrying the Tooth Relic in a clam and obedient manner; which is respected by the observers of Dalada Perahera by standing from their seats.A musical ambience is brought to Dalada Perahera by Gajaga Wannama which is formed as a tribute to the tuskers. The tusker who accompanies Gajanayaka Nilame walks according to the rhythm of Gajaga Wannama.
The following are some of the notable tusker elephants who participated as the main casket bearer of the Kandy Esala perehera festival.
Raja (රාජා හස්තියා)
Heiyantuduwa Raja (හෙයියන්තුඩුවේ රාජා)
Millangoda Raja (මිල්ලන්ගොඩ රාජා )
Nadungamuwa Raja (නැදුම්ගමුවේ රාජා)
Some other tusker elephants participated as the main casket bearer of the Kandy Esala perehera festival from time to time.
Saman Dewalaye Raja / Vijayadantha (සමන් රාජා / විජයදන්ත)
Vaavaladeniye Raja (වෑවලදෙනියේ රාජා)
Gangaramaye nawam Raja /Ruwan Raja (ගංගාරාමයේ නවම් රාජා)
Bellanvila Raja (බෙල්ලන්විල රාජා)
Jaya Raja (ජය රාජා)
Katharagama Vasana (කතරගම වාසනා)
Indi raja ( ඉන්දි රාජා)
tusker elephants who participated as the main casket bearer of the Kandy Esala perehera festival in deep history.
Eirawana(ඵෙරාවණ) -KIng 5 Kithsiri Mewan era
Lewke valavve Atha (ලෙව්කේ වළව්වේ ඇතා)
Mathalee Vaagodapala valavve Atta (මාතලේ වෑගොඩපොළ වලව්වේ ඇතා)
Paanabokka valavve Atha/Dala Kota (පානබොක්කෙ වළව්වේ ඇතා/ දළ කොටා)
Mahayyiyawa ratvatte valavve Gomara Atha (මහයියාවේ රත්වත්තේ වලව්වේ ගෝමර ඇතා)
Idampitiye Atha (ඉඩම්පිටියේ ඇතා)
Elephants used for religious purposes during the early periods were mostly State elephants belonging to the king and in some cases, the royal or Mangala elephant. The first recorded donation of an elephant to a temple took place in the early First Century CE. This could be a continuation of a former tradition. The offering of elephants to temples is recorded in historical sources since the 14th Century CE. A number of elephants and a variety of dancers are often used as a measure of the excellence and quality of the procession. The Sacred Tooth Relic was guarded with veneration by Sri Lankan kings.
Elephants were often used to represent the Buddha and as a symbol of religion during King Ashoka’s time (272-232 BCE) in India. The association of elephants with Buddhism has been depicted in art and architecture since ancient times, in India and Sri Lanka. Arahat Mahinda Thera, during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa. There is an oral tradition that the use of elephants in processions commenced during the 18th century CE, when the Dalada Perahera, conducted in honour of the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha, was connected with Esala Perahera, the annual procession held in Kandy. Elephants were also used for the festival of enshrining of the relics in the Relic Chamber of Mahathupa (Ruwanveli Seya) of Anuradhapura during the reign of King Dutugemunu (167-137 BCE).
The Dalada Sirita, compiled during the time of King Parakramabahu IV, is a manual of 38 statues regarding the Perahera of the Tooth Relic. Among the rules is a description of the procedure to be followed at a procession held during public displays of the Tooth Relic. The relic was enshrined in a bejewelled casket and taken out and placed on a decorated chariot, pulled by a tusked elephant with auspicious marks yoked to it.
00:00-intro
00:41-Kataragama Wasana
01:51-Indhi Raja
02:59-Sinha Raja
03:30-Miyan Raja & Buruma Raja
03:49-Kelaniye Kandula
04:16-Kotte Raja
04:37-Thai Raja
05:27-Jana Raja
05:52-Kaweri Raja
06:30-Muthu Raja
07:18-Haiyanthudawe Rama
07:34-Migara
08:04-Sindhu
08:33-Raju
08:55-Pulathisi Raja
09:21-Miyan Kumara
09:46-Rohana Raja & Miyan Raja
10:02-End