The oldest historical tree

by Sumana Saparamadu

Sequoia the beautiful towering trees in the National Parks in California, USA are considered the oldest trees in the world. Scientists say that one such Sequoia named the General Grant tree in Kings Canyon was there more than 3,000 years ago.

A sign by the tree tells the visitors to the park that "the tree was a middle-aged tree when Christ was born. Given good protection it may live for several more centuries."

Scientist can only guess their age, by the size and appearance of the trees and other signs which are known to them. No one can tell the exact age.

The oldest tree in the world, whose exact age is known is in Sri Lanka. The Sri Maha Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura is the oldest tree with a recorded history of 2260 years. The sapling from the Maha Bodhi in Buddha Gaya, was brought to Sri Lanka by Sanghamitta Therani and planted in Anuradhapura 247 years before Christ was born.

We can be justly proud that the oldest historical tree in the world is in our country.

We know the tree's history from the day it was planted. It was on a full-moon day of Unduvap (full moon day in December) that Sanghamitta Therani landed in Lanka, and presented the Bo sapling to King Devanampiya Tissa, and some weeks later it was planted in Anuradhapura, with great ceremony, in the presence of a large gathering including royal visitors from distant Kataragama.

It is recorded in the ancient Pali and Sinhala books on the Sri Maha Bodhi that eight seedlings from this tree were planted in eight selected sites.

One was planted near the port of Jambukola in the Jaffna peninsular, where Sanghamitta therani landed. Another was planted in the Thuparama grounds and another at Kataragama. The Bo tree at Kataragama still stands and is only a little younger than the Sri Maha Bodhi.

The books say that another 32 seedlings were planted at 32 sites "at a distance of one yojana. There is a belief that the Bo tree at Kalutara, not the one by the river, but the one on the hillock opposite, is one of these 30.

It may well be, because in ancient Lanka, the Kalu ganga marked the boundary of the Ruhunu Rata separating it from Maya Rata and not the Bentara ganga as is accepted today.

There are a few other trees with a history. I will tell you about them later.