Bodhi Tree

Bodhi Tree

The Bodhi Tree, also known as Bo (from the Sinhalese Bo), was a large and very old Sacred Fig tree ("Ficus religiosa") located in Bodh Gaya (about convert|100|km|mi|-0|abbr=on|disp=/ from Patna in the Indian state of Bihar), under which Siddhartha Gautama, the spiritual teacher and founder of Buddhism later known as Gautama Buddha, achieved enlightenment, or "Bodhi". In religious iconography, the Bodhi tree is recognizable by its heart-shaped leaves, which are usually prominently displayed.

The term "Bodhi tree" is also widely applied to currently existing trees, particularly the Sacred Fig growing at the Mahabodhi Temple, which is probably a direct descendant of the original specimen. This tree is a frequent destination for pilgrims, being the most important of the four holy sites for Buddhists. Other holy Bodhi trees which have a great significance in the history of Buddhism are the Anandabodhi tree in Sravasti and the Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura. Both are believed to have been propagated from the original Bodhi tree.

In Buddhist chronology

The Bodhi tree at the Mahabodhi Temple is called the Sri Maha Bodhi. According to Buddhist texts the Buddha, after his Enlightenment, spent a whole week in front of the tree, standing with unblinking eyes, gazing at it with gratitude. A shrine was later erected on the spot where he stood, and was called the Animisalocana cetiya.Fact|date=September 2008

are mentioned thirty thousand monks from the Bodhimanda Vihara, led by Cittagutta. [Mahavamsa, chap. 29, 41. http://lakdiva.org/mahavamsa/chap029.html]

To Jetavana, Sravasti

Buddhist tradition recounts that while the Buddha was yet alive, in order that people might make their offerings in the name of the Buddha when he was away on pilgrimage, he sanctioned the planting of a seed from the Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya in front of the gateway of Jetavana Monastery near Sravasti. For this purpose Moggallana took a fruit from the tree as it dropped from its stalk, before it reached the ground. It was planted in a golden jar by Anathapindika with great pomp and ceremony. A sapling immediately sprouted forth, fifty cubits high, and in order to consecrate it the Buddha spent one night under it, rapt in meditation. This tree, because it was planted under the direction of Ananda, came to be known as the Ananda Bodhi. [J.iv.228ff]

To Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

According to the Mahavamsa, the Sri Maha Bodhi in Sri Lanka was planted in 288 BC, making it the oldest verified specimen of any angiosperm. In this year (the twelfth year of King Asoka's reign) the right branch of the Bodhi tree was brought by Sanghamittā to Anurādhapura and placed by Devānāmpiyatissa in the Mahāmeghavana. The Buddha, on his death bed, had resolved five things, one being that the branch which should be taken to Ceylon should detach itself. [Mahavamsa. chap. 17, 46f. http://lakdiva.org/mahavamsa/chap017.html] From Gayā, the branch was taken to Pātaliputta, thence to Tāmalittī, where it was placed in a ship and taken to Jambukola, across the sea; finally it arrived at Anuradhapura, staying on the way at Tivakka. Those who assisted the king at the ceremony of the planting of the Tree were the nobles of Kājaragāma and of Candanagāma and of Tivakka.

The trees of Previous Buddhas

According to the Mahavamsa, [For example, chap 15. http://lakdiva.org/mahavamsa/chap015.html] branches from the Bodhi trees of all the Buddhas born during this kalpa were planted in Ceylon on the spot where the sacred Bodhi tree stands today in Anurādhapura. The branch of Kakusandha's tree was brought by a nun called Rucānandā, Konagamana's by Kantakānandā (or Kanakadattā), and Kassapa's by Sudhammā.

Modern plantings

A Sri Maha Bodhi sapling was planted in the Buddha Jayanti Park in New Delhi, India in 1993.Fact|date=January 2008

See also

* Bodhi
* Mahabodhi Temple
* Bodhgaya
* Budda

External links

* [http://cbs.ntu.edu.tw/bodhitree/en/ 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.]
* [http://www.wisdom-tree.com The Bodhi-Tree Meditation - a Buddhist practice based on the Buddha's night of liberation]

References


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  • bodhi tree — or bo tree In Buddhism, the fig tree under which the Buddha sat when he attained enlightenment (bodhi) at Bodh Gaya (near Gaya, India). The tree growing on the site now is believed to be a descendant of the original, planted from a cutting of a… …   Universalium

  • Bodhi tree — /ˈboʊdi tri/ (say bohdee tree) noun the pipal or sacred fig tree, Ficus religiosa, under which Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) is said to have sat in meditation for forty nine days before achieving enlightenment, the original tree being destroyed …  

  • bodhi tree — noun a) The Indian fig tree, Ficus religiosa, that is sacred to Buddhism b) The specific fig tree under which the Buddha sat when he attained enlightenment; the descendant of that tree on the same spot at Bodh Gaya …   Wiktionary

  • bodhi tree — pipal, bo tree, species of fig tree native to India (sacred to Buddhists because it is said that the founder of Buddhism attained Enlightenment while sitting under this type of tree) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • bodhi tree — noun Etymology: Sanskrit bodhi, literally, enlightenment : pipal …   Useful english dictionary

  • bodhi tree. — See bo tree. * * * …   Universalium

  • BODHI-TREE —    the traditional tree under which GAUTAMA the BUDDHA received ENLIGHTENMENT …   Concise dictionary of Religion

  • bodhi tree. — See bo tree …   Useful english dictionary

  • Bodhi — (बोधि) is both the Pāli and Sanskrit word traditionally translated into English as enlightenment. The word buddha means one who has achieved bodhi. Bodhi is also frequently translated as awakening. Although its most common usage by far is in the… …   Wikipedia

  • Tree worship — (dendrolatry) refers to the tendency of many societies throughout history to worship or otherwise mythologize trees. Trees have played an important role in many of the world s mythologies and religions, and have been given deep and sacred… …   Wikipedia

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