Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi :: Sri Maha Bodhi :: ජය ශ්‍රී මහ බෝධිය :: ශ්‍රී මහ බෝධිය Verified listing

The ascetic Siddhartha attained enlightenment on the full moon day of Vesak month (May) in the year 588 BC under the Asatu tree located in a place called Gaya in the Uruel colony of Northern India. After attaining enlightenment, that Asatu tree was then called Bodhi tree (Bo tree). Mihindu Ma Thero took the Buddha's pure Dhamma message to Lakdi in AD. B.C. In 250

King Patis II received it with great respect and gave all possible favors for it. After that, the king sent letters to Emperor Ashoka to send Sanghamitta Theranis for Meheni Sasna, as per Mihindu Thera's request. King Ashoka, who was pleased to hear that, was kind enough to send not only his daughter Sanghamitta Theraniya, but also the southern branch taken from the Great Bodhi, the place where the Buddha attained enlightenment in Bodhgaya. It is said that King Ashoka sent many artisans belonging to different social classes (18) along with Bodhi Ankura. The entourage boarded the ship from Tamulipta Port and landed at Dambakola Patu at Lakdi where they were received with great respect by King Devanapatis. Accordingly, the Bodhi branch which was brought from Vadama in the Great Procession was found in the present Maha Megha Forest in BC. Planted by King Pathis II in 249. The height of the platform where the Bodhi is placed is 21 feet. Length is 71 feet. Width is 57 feet. The platform consists of 3 floors and the first floor at the ground level is called Weli Malwa.

There are 41 attendant Bodhis seated there and three of these are in the upper courtyard and the rest are in the lower courtyard. It can be accepted that these Parivara Bodhis were planted for the protection of Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi. The contribution received from the kings of that time for the development and protection of Sri Maha Bodhi is huge. King Pathis II built a Bodhighara to ensure security. King Dhatusena repaired the wall with four gates around the Bodhi courtyard. King Meghavarna covered the floor of Bodhigarh with tiles. It is said that King Mahanaga placed idols in it and King Sena II built a temple in front of it. Bodhi Temple was built by King Vasabha. King Jettatissa arranged to fix the entrance to it, and King Voharika Tissa and King Mahasena have buried bronze statues. One of the great works of King Agrabodhi I was the construction of a burial court in front of the temple. Today, a stone wall surrounds the Bodhi. Its founder is King Kirti Sri Rajasingha. Bodhi wall is 330 feet long on one side. The other side is 274 feet and the height is 10 feet. Kirti was something that offended the devout Buddhists during the time of King Sri Rajasingha. That Anuradhapura became wild and became the king of animals. The Buddhists who did not hesitate protected the Bodhi by lighting bonfires. This required a lot of firewood. They set aside a day to collect enough firewood in a year. In time, the day came to be known as "Daramiti Poya" and the action as Daramiti Perahera.

Bringing water from the Tisa lake to bathe the Bodhi is also an ancient ritual. At that time, there were four pujotsavas that were held for the years associated with the Bodhisattva. They are:
1. New Year Festival
2. Old Year Nanumura Festival
3. Kartika festival
4. New Rice Festival

Sanghamitta brought Sri Mahabodhi bud from Jambudvipa on the full moon day of Unduvap, so that day is a very special day for Anuradhapura. Protecting Sri Maha Bodhi is considered to be one of the oldest religious professions in the world. The special guards for that purpose live in the nearby villages which they have inherited. Sri Maha Bodhi is one of the oldest trees in the world. As of 2008, this has exceeded 2550 years.

Siddhartha Gautama Thausanan attained enlightenment under an Asatu tree in Bomadaya, Northern India. The first and second weeks of enlightenment were also near that Asatu tree. Because of this, the Asatu tree became famous with a new name of 'Bodhi'. Because the tree helped to attain enlightenment, it became a consumer motif for Buddhists. In fact, according to its meaning, it is the tree of wisdom of the Buddhists. Commentaries state that Bodhi means the four paths. Siddhartha Gautama Thausanan attained enlightenment under an Asatu tree in Bomadaya, Northern India. The first and second weeks of enlightenment were also near that Asatu tree. Because of this, the Asatu tree was known by a new name, Bodhi. Because the tree helped to attain enlightenment, it became a consumer motif for Buddhists.

In fact, according to its meaning, it is the tree of wisdom of the Buddhists. Commentaries state that Bodhi means the four paths. In India, the Aswattha tree continued to be a sacred tree from the Mohenjodaro and Harappan eras through the Vedika era. It is a tree with god or divine power. Hindus associate it with Krishna and Vishnu. It appears that those ideas have been accepted by later Buddhists. Enshrined in the Anuradhapura Sri Maha Bodhi is believed to be Vishnu known as Kaludevata Bandara. It is well known that Vishnu is enshrined in the Bodhi of Bellanwila Rajamaha Vihara. Anuradhapura Mahamevna Garden in what is now known as Uda Malwa, the ancient Bodhi (1) is the southern branch of the original Sri Maha Bodhi in Bomadaya, India. It was brought to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC by Sanghamitta Meheninu, the sister of Mihindu Thero, the chief monk.

Dharmashoka Adhiraja, the father of Mihindu Thera and Sanghamitta Theraniya, sent it to Sri Lanka.

The object that was given the most love and respect was the Sri Maha Bodhi, and if it was not for his concern for Sri Lanka and for his son and daughter who worked to spread Buddhism there by sending its southern branch to Sri Lanka, that Bodhi branch would not have been received in this country. It is mentioned in the Mahavamsa that the land where the Anuradhapura Sri Maha Bodhi is located was made holy by the touch of the Buddha's feet.

For this reason, Mihindu Thero decided that the place was suitable for Sri Maha Bodhi. Historians estimate that the Anuradhapura Sri Maha Bodhi was planted in BC. 246 water. This date is in AD. A date close to 307 is very likely. Four months after Mihindu Thero's arrival, Sanghamitta Theraniya brought the Bodhi branch. Bodhi planting took place in Mahamevna garden amidst a large crowd. It is reported that people from distant areas also came to the festival. The arrival of women from Kataragama and Sandungama in Ruhuna is also mentioned. They can be considered as relatives of Buddha. Otherwise, there is no reason to go from such a far distance to the Bodhi planting ceremony held in Anuradhapura. It is said that Anuradhapura Sri Maha Bodhi was planted on a high ground and surrounded by four ramparts and steps to climb up and then a wall or fence was built around the Bodhi.