Sri Maha Bodhi

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 convert|6.5|m|ft|1|abbr=on 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 Jaya Siri 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.

ee also

* Bodhi tree
* Buddhist pilgrimage
* Sanghamitta

External links

* [http://discover.lankanest.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=48&Itemid=75.htm Discover Sri Lanka - more information & images about Sri Maha Bodhi ]
* [http://srimahabodhi.org/index.htm Living Heritage - Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi ]
* [http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/200 UNESCO World Heritage - Sacred City of Anuradhapura]
* [http://www.blurrytravel.com/sea2003/journal/10282003-2/10282003-2.html Sri Maha Bodhi tourist site]
* [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.the-tree.org.uk/Sacred%20Grove/Buddhism/BodhiTree.htm Buddha and the Bodhi tree ]