In the dim past when ancient Lanka was ruled by kings and queens, what is today known as Matara, the southern most capital of Sri Lanka was known by many epithets. Among them were Mahathitha, Nilwalathitha and Mahithitha. The Dutch named it Mature.
The pages of the ancient chronicle like the 'Culavamsa' tells us how Parakarama Bahu The Great of the 12th century AD led an expedition to Matara to subdue a revolt there in 1153 AD under his warrior like General Rakha. Matara means Maha Ethera meaning the Great Ford. this is because of the mighty but meandering river - the Nilwala ganga which flows through the heart of this ancient citadel to join her estuary at Thotamune.
Tragic episodes of two poets
Delving still into the depths of deeper history and oral traditions, we come across the well known story spun around King Kumara Dharmasena (512-522 AD), the scholar but poet king and of his amiable friend, equally a poet and scholar-Kalidasa. Around these two literary giants are woven a tragic tale that is known not only around Matara but even through the whole island.
According to this sad but romantic story, it is unfolded thus. While king Kumara Dharmasena was in the amorous company of a courtesan, he espied a bee entangled in the petals of a lotus flower. While in this orgy of his love tryst in the alms of his concubine, the king was lured into writing two poetic lines, thus comparing himself as involved similarly in the very amorous alms of his courtesan. The good king offered a reward to anybody who could complete the other two poetic stanzaas of these two lines.
The cunning courtesan seized the opportunity. She took the two lines of poetry to the king's friend-Kalidasa himself and got the two lines of the verse completed. In order to get the reward for herself she murdered Kalidasa, concealing the body and took with her those two lines of poetry to the king himself. On seeing these two poetic lines, he instantly recognised his bosom friend - Kalidasa's handwriting which brought the whole murderous ruse to light.
But yet another popular story unfolds that seven Bo trees were later planted. These particular seven Bo trees are locally and popularly known as the 'hath Bodhis' and are said to be still surviving at six different places around Matara within the town limits.
In the past and in recent times for my feature writing to amass suitable material, I have been used to go rambling around Matara in quest of these identical sites where these hath Bodhis stand.
In the past wanderings to meet authoritative and distinguished persons, I was fortunate to meet one of them. He was the late Mr. Justin Wijewardene of Matara, a retired teacher (Rahula College) prolific writer, a versatile translator of some of the books of H.G. Wells into Sinhala and an ex-member of Parliament for the Matara district. He poured forth to me as if he was narrating a chronicle about the historic city of Matara.
According to him only six such Bodhis are supposed to be still in existence. All of them are still held in reverence. Two are located in the heart of the Matara town overlooking the Police station. These two Bo trees are being venerated not only by the people of Matara, but also those persons and motorists who go past them and offer Bodhi poojas, flowers, and fulfil vows.
A creamy white dagaba stands in all its sanctity besides these two Bo trees lying opposite the Matara Police Station.
The third Bodhi-Bo tree is found at the cemetery junction (called as Gabada Veediya) the fourth one at Veliveriya junction (Hunukotuwa junction) the fifth down main street close to Mr. Edmund Samarasekera's land and finally the sixth down Kotuwagoda old road.
