Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is one of the main pilgrimage of Buddhists. This is a sacred tree. Botanical name of this tree is Ficus religiosa. And, Sri Lankans say the “Bo Tree“.
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree is one of the famous travel location in Sri Lanka. Everyone who travels Anuradhapura will never miss this place. Lanka Tour Experts will also cover this place during a round tours, which travel through the Anuradhapura ancient city.
Importance of Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Tree
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Tree is important to Buddhists. They believe that, Lord Buddha attended to Nirwana under the mother tree of this tree. According to Buddhist history Lord Buddha had paid gratitude to the mother tree of this because it gave the shade to him to attend to Nirwana.
Sri Lankan Buddhists worship this tree under this circumstance. If you love to see this place and learn the history of it you have to visit Anuradhapura.
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree is the only Buddhist pilgrimage in the world, which was live in the era of Lord Buddha. And it is the oldest tree in the world with a recorded history.
History of Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Tree
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree is important in both religiously and historically. According to the historical records of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka received this tree in 288BC. It was a donation from India. In fact that the Buddhist female monk Ven. Sanghamitta Theri brought this Sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Tree here. Sanghamitta was the daughter of the famous Emperor Asoka of India.
Buddhist Emperor Asoka donated this Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree to Sri Lanka for the sake of the friendship with Sri Lankan King Devanampiyatissa. In addition to this sacred tree, India donates various kinds of artists and craftsmen to Sri Lanka at the same time.
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Tree in Sri Lanka is the Southern branch of the Mother Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Tree of India.
Queen of the Emperor Asoka was not a Buddhist. She destroyed the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Tree of India after the great emperor Asoka. But Sri Lanka still have the same tree here. It is because Sri Lankan people protected this sacred tree from various threats in the history.
Until to the present, Sri Lankan people do their best to care this Sri Maha Bodhi Tree. Sri Lankan people thoroughly concern about the protection of religious places. Just like Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya, they also protect Temple of the Tooth by their hearts.
Present Situation of Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Tree
Sri Maha Bodhi Tree is presently live. But during the near past preservation project needed to cut down two branches. Cutting down those two branches because it was thoroughly requested to protect the tree for future. It was 1929. Before this, two of the branches broke due to two separate storms in 1907 and 1911.
Tours cover Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi of Anuradhapura
Here we are showing some Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi visiting tour itineraries below. If you like to visit Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi on any other tour in Sri Lanka we can arrange a customize tour for you.
