Prince Saliya, who was attracted by the charms of Asokamala, did not bother about inheriting the luxuries of kingship. Having agreed to live with Asokmala peacefully in the forest closer to Hopalu grove, the prince Saliya declared that the heir to the throne is not worth when compared with the love of Asokamala. When King Dutugemunu heard about his son's displeasure to be the next king, he got worried. The king became sick, as a result. The courtiers ushered in the most learned physicians of the kingdom. But all that was futile. He was still worried and sick.
"I am going to die, and my son is not going to be my successor." said a worried king to his close companions.
They in turn passed the message to the prince. The prince listened to them carefully and further inquired about the sickness. Asokamala, his wife, overheard the conversation. She contemplated the nature of the sickness - she had been groomed to do so.
"The king is suffering from an itching sensation in his whole body. He is restless and walks about in and out of the palace. He looks helpless." The royal courtiers said.
"Perhaps if you pay a visit," they told Saliya, "things will change for good." The prince wanted to tell all this to his wife. "Mala, my father is not well.
Do you know any way to cure him?" "I can cure him, no problem. I will give him some herbal treatment."
"How are we going to treat him? Are we going to the palace or are we inviting him to come over here?" Saliya asked.
"Let your father come here. I can prepare a medicinal bath for him. It is better to treat him in the herbal surroundings than in a royal palace." The prince then turned to the royal courtiers.
"If my father likes to have treatment, please ask him to come here tomorrow." When the royal courtiers passed the message, the king liked the idea.
"All right. Let us go there and see my son and Asokamala." The courtiers informed Saliya about the king's response. Asokamala was happy that she could treat Saliya's father.
She got all the necessary herbs and prepared a herbal bath. When the king arrived the following morning Asokamala handed over a bowl of herbal gruel in the first instance. She wanted everyone to be silent. No one disturbed her. She spoke mildly to the king like a great physician and diagnosed the sickness.
"Please go to that hut." She showed a certain thatched abode close by.
"Great Majesty, you got to remove all your clothes and immerse yourself in the herbal bath.
You will have a sound sleep. Your son Saliya will keep watch from time to time. You should not leave the bath until I indicate." The king adhered to the precautions. He removed all his royal garments and immersed in the herbal bath.
Time passed on. The royal retinue who came with the king were given food prepared by Asokamala. The auspicious time came for the king to come out of the herbal bath. Asokamala indicated to Saliya:
"It is time for the king to come out of the bath." When the king came out of the herbal bath he was feeling well. There was no itching and the burning sensation is all gone! Once again the king clad himself with his royal garments.
"How do you feel now?" Asked Asokamala.
"I am feeling heavenly." Then she prepared a fresh meal to the king and invited him to partake of it. The king was smiling in a manner so far unseen by the courtiers. "I never knew that you are a physician.
Let me give you a gift of honour tomorrow. I invite you and my son to my place." The king brought a three-tiered pendant as a present to Asokamala. He gifted it on a mountain and declared:
"She cured my sickness." Asokamala and Saliya knelt before the king Dutugemunu and accepted the royal award. The pendant was known as Tuntiri Malaya and the place it was given is still known as Tantirimalaya.
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