Why Sri Lanka is investigating a photo of Buddha's tooth relic

An image of Buddha’s tooth relic taken during a rare public display has led the Sri Lankan police to launch investigation.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has undertaken an investigation to verify the authenticity of the widely circulated image. The inquiry aims to determine whether the photograph originated from the currently ongoing, infrequent public exhibition of the relic or if it is a product of digital alteration.

Here is what you need to know.

Why is the image causing a stir?

According to NewsX, the image in question allegedly shows Buddha’s tooth relic, which was recently displayed publicly at the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy. The report further stated that these exhibitions are rare and are conducted under tight security. The exposition was taking place after 16 years at the request of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

To ensure the sanctity and security of the highly venerated relic during its public viewing, strict prohibitions are in place. Photography is forbidden, devotees are frisked before entering the sacred area of the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, and neither bags nor parcels are permitted. Moreover, the use of mobile phones within the temple is also banned.

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“If someone took a photo inside the temple, it is a serious security lapse,” a police official told AFP.

“We are here to use this rare chance to venerate the tooth relic - never mind the long time we spent in the queue,” Geethani Mendis, a 65-year-old mother of two, said as she was near the temple entrance.

How is the police investigating the matter?

As per AFP, law enforcement officials have indicated that the Criminal Investigation Department has received an order to determine the authenticity of the widely disseminated image, specifically to establish if it was captured during the infrequent public exhibition of the relic.

“There is a significant presence of plain-clothed officers inside the temple,” he said, requesting anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media. A police statement said detectives would investigate whether the photo had been taken by a worshipper during the current exhibition, or whether it was a doctored image.

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What is the importance of the tooth relic?

The sacred tooth relic is not only a religious artefact but also a symbol of state sovereignty in Sri Lanka. Historical accounts reveal that the tooth relic, arriving in Kandy in 1590, evolved into a potent symbol of Buddhist holiness, Sri Lanka’s most cherished possession and a representation of sovereign power.

According to news agency Press Trust of India, tradition holds that the actual tooth relic was never accessible to public viewing. Instead, what was presented behind a gilded railing and upon a silver table within the Temple of the Tooth was a gold-plated reliquary, identified as the outermost of a series of seven caskets.

Access to the inner sanctum containing the caskets was historically limited to the King and certain powerful Buddhist monks. In the modern era, however, the policy has evolved to allow visitors to view the reliquary, albeit from a distance.

The public display attracts vast numbers of devotees. Approximately 1,25,000 people visited the temple on the first day of the current exhibition, reported AFP. ​On subsequent days, the exhibition is open for five and a half hours. The 10-day exhibition ends on April 27.

The huge crowds visiting the Temple of the Tooth have led to traffic chaos in Kandy, while tens of thousands of devotees have also been camping overnight to worship the relic.

With inputs from agencies