Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi

The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura.

File:Sanghamitta1.jpg Sanghamitta landing with the Bodhi tree sapling at Sri Lanka.

Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a Sacred Fig tree in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is said to be a sapling from the historical Bodhi tree under which Buddha became enlightened. It was planted in 288 BC, and is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date.

It was planted on a high terrace about 6.5 m (21.3 ft) above the ground and surrounded by railings, and today it is one of the most sacred relics of the Buddhists in Sri Lanka and respected by Buddhists all over the world. This wall was constructed during the reign of King Kirthi Sri Rajasingha, to protect it from wild elephants which might have damaged the tree.

History

The tree is said to be the southern branch of the Sri Maha Bodhi at Bodh Gaya in India under which Buddha attained Enlightenment.

In the 3rd century BC, the Buddha's fig tree was brought to Sri Lanka by the Thera Sangamitta (Pali; Skt.: Sanghamitra), daughter of Emperor Asoka and founder of an order of Buddhist nuns in Sri Lanka.

In 249 BC, Siri Maha Bodhi was planted in the Mahameghavana Park in Anuradhapura by King Devanampiyatissa.

On May 14, 1985, Tamil Tigers gunned down nuns, monks and civilians as they prayed inside the Buddhist shrine. See Anuradhapura massacre.

See also

• Bodhi tree
• Buddhist pilgrimage
• Sanghamitta

External links

• Discover Sri Lanka - more information & images about Sri Maha Bodhi
• Living Heritage - Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi
• UNESCO World Heritage - Sacred City of Anuradhapura
• Sri Maha Bodhi tourist site
• The Bodhi Tree Network - Listing of branches/saplings of the Bodhi Tree around the world, cultivation tips of Bo tree, and how to share Bodhi trees
• Buddha and the Bodhi tree

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