Sri Maha Bodhi

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Sri Maha Bodhi, Anuradhapura. Sri Lanka. 2006.

Sri Maha Bodhi is a Sacred Fig tree in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is said to be a sapling from the original Bodhi tree under which the historical 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 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 the wild elephants which might have attacked the tree.

Buddha's fig tree was brought to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century B.C. by the Theri Sangamitta (Sanskrit:Sanghamitra), daughter of Emperor Asoka and founder of an order of Buddhist nuns. Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi was planted in the Mahameghavana Park in Anuradhapura in 249 BC by King Devanampiyatissa. It is said to be the southern branch of the Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi at Buddha Gaya in India under which Lord Buddha attained Enlightenment.