Tooth Relic of the Buddha: A Relic in Sri Lankan Politics c. 300–2000 by Dharmaratna Herath is a profound and scholarly examination of one of Sri Lanka’s most venerated sacred objects — the Tooth Relic of the Buddha. Drawing from both historical and anthropological perspectives, Herath explores how this relic transcended its religious significance to become a potent symbol of political authority, legitimising sovereignty and unifying Sinhala Buddhist identity over two millennia.
 
An expansion of the author’s University of London doctoral thesis, this updated edition incorporates rare illustrations and newly uncovered material from previously inaccessible sources. It challenges long-held misconceptions — including myths surrounding the Tooth’s destruction by the Portuguese and the notion of a second relic in Kandy — while revealing how successive rulers, from ancient monarchs to British colonial administrators, engaged with the relic as a tool of political and cultural influence.
 
Rich in insight and detail, Tooth Relic of the Buddha stands as a vital contribution to the understanding of Sri Lankan history, religion, and statecraft.