Avurudu ceremonies at the Sri Dalada Maligawa through the ages

The national ceremony for anointing oil after the Sinhala and Hindu New Year will be held at Natha Devale this year. A brief look at the importance of Natha Devale would bring out that Natha Devale was the centre of activities even in the past.

The Avurudu festival which forms one of the four great festivals of the Sri Dalada Maligawa is conducted according to the rites and rituals that have passed down through the years, since the Sacred Tooth Relic was at Senkadapura. This ritual forms the base of the Avurudu celebrations.

The ceremony begins with the distribution of the ' nanu ' to Natha Devale, the Devale of God Natha who is believed to be the next Buddha. The nanu or the perfumed oils are prepared at the Sri Dalada Maligawa and taken first to the Natha Devale for distribution to the other four Devales for the 'Nanumur Mangalaya', after the New Year festival. This is done three or four days before the festival. ' Nanu oil' is made of sandalwood paste and 14 other medicinal herbs.

After the ' nanu' has been delivered to the Natha Devale, the Maligawa officials prepare for the Avurudu festival. In ancient times, it was the Sri Dalada Maligawa that announced the times of the Sinhala New Year drawn up by the ' Nekath Rala'. The announcement would travel through the country, especially the Kandyan Kingdom. The person to whom all the activities are entrusted during this period is the ' Kariya Karawana Korale', the very name itself signifying his position. The Kariya Korale, then orders the ten villages involved with these ceremonies to clean the Maligawa, bring the pots, milk and other needs for these ceremonies. Now though the names of the villages are in the books, no one seems to take any interest and it has become more or less a paid employment.

The huge bowls found in the 'Sadum Kudama' or sandalwood area of the Maligawa are used during Aluth Sal Mangalaya and also during Vesak.

The most important function during Sinhala New Year is the boiling of milk, placed right in front of the main entrance or the golden door to the inner Chamber. This is right in line with the 'Maha Gabadawa' or store house. The next is at the entrance to the ' Palle Mahala ' or ground floor. This is done on New Year's Day and the boiled milk is scatted around the Sri Dalada. The sound of the Magul Bera indicates that a special function is to be enacted and that is the bathing of the Sacred Tooth Relic known as ' Khantasnanoya'. This ritual is not open to anyone, other than those who are serving within the Inner Chamber. This is also a form of ‘Nanumura ' but only confined to ' Aluth Avurudda'.

The ' Kavikara Maduwa' or the house of poets commences with a mini Perahera around the central building, known as ' Vatahewisi'. The Sangha who are in the Inner Shrine room perform the rites of bathing the Sacred Tooth Relic, with the already prepared herbal water. This water is first poured over a Brazen Mirror. Then perfumed water is poured over the same mirror and the ceremony ends. The herbal water and the perfumed water are rarely given to anyone. With this ceremony ends the Kavikara Maduwa singing, the beat of the Magul Bera and the Hewisi.

The Khantasnanoya and the boiling of milk or " Kiri-eterima " is a simultaneous process. Meanwhile the cooks of the 'Multenna' or cooking area prepare the dana that would be offered to the Sacred Tooth Relic at the normal times as ' multhan dana'. If the day falls on a Wednesday or Saturday, then Nanumura Mangalaya would also be held.

Though few are aware of their significance, these traditional ceremonies continue at the Sri Dalada Maligawa.