Sri Maha Bodhi (The sacred Bo-Tree)
After bringing Buddhism to Sri Lanka by Mahinda Thero in 250 BC Emperor Asoka
in India sent his daughter Theri Sanghamitta to the island with a branch
of the Sacred Bodhi obtained from the main stem of the bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya
under which Buddha attained enlightenment. The king Tissa received the sapling
and planted it at the present site in 249 BC. Taking this information to account
today (in 2004) is tree is exactly 2253 years old. Thus this tree is the oldest
tree in world in the recorded history.
Even after the Apura was deserted as the capital of the country and encroached
by the jungle, pious people nevertheless tendered to the tree effortlessly.
The villagers lit bonfires to frighten off wild elephants. As the time went
on the villagers made it a habit to collect firewood for the whole year on one
single day. This possession was called “Daramiti Perahara” (Firewood
Possession) which continues up to this day.
There are special guards who look after the Bodhi Tree. This again is an age
old custom continued to date by people who live in the neighbourhood whose ancestors
have received the land for their services. This may be probably one of the oldest
surviving religious professions in the world.
The bodhi tree was subjected to a vandalised act by a madman who tried to cut
off the tree in 1929. He did manage to cut off a branch of the tree. Then again
in 19xx this religious ground was attached by the Tamil terrorists (LTTE) which
brutally murdered a large number of innocent devotees who had come to worship the tree creating a blood
bath.
Today you can see this 2250 year old tree which is helped by few metal towers
and accompanied by 41 “parivara” (companion) trees.
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Steps at the Sacred Bo Tree |
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created : 2003
Last Saved
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December 20, 2010
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