Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi (Sinhala:ජය ශ්රි මහා බොධිය) is a Sacred Fig tree in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is said to be the southern branch from the historical Bodhi tree Sri Maha Bodhi at Bodh Gaya in India under which Lord Buddha attained Enlightenment. It was planted in 288 BC,[1][2][3][4] and is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date.[5] Today it is one of the most sacred relics of the Buddhists in Sri Lanka and respected by Buddhists all over the world.
The other fig trees that surround the sacred tree protect it from storms and animals such as monkeys, bats, etc.
History
In the 3rd century BC, it was brought to Sri Lanka by Sangamitta (Pali; Skt.: Sanghamitra) Thera, the daughter of Emperor Asoka and founder of an order of Buddhist nuns in Sri Lanka. In 288 BC [6][7][8][9] it was planted by King Devanampiya Tissa on a high terrace about Vorlage:Convert above the ground in the Mahamevnāwa Park in Anuradhapura and surrounded by railings.
Contributions
Several ancient kings have contributed in developing this religious site. King Vasabha (65 - 107 AD) placed four Buddha statues in four side of the sacred tree. King Voharika Tissa (214 - 236 AD) added metallic statues. King Mahanaga (569 - 571 AD) constructed a water canal around the sacred tree and King Sena II (846 - 866 AD) renovated it.[10]
The present wall was constructed by Ilupandeniye Athtadassi Thero during the reign of King Kirti Sri Rajasinha, to protect it from wild elephants which might have damaged the tree. The height of the wall is Vorlage:Convert; and Vorlage:Convert in thickness; its length from north to south is Vorlage:Convert and from east to west Vorlage:Convert.
The first golden fence around the sacred tree was constructed by some Buddhist followers in Kandy under the guidance of Yatirawana Narada Thero in 1969. The iron fence below the above golden fence was created by people of Gonagala under the guidance of Yagirala Pannananda Thero.
Ancient models
Two statues of Lord Buddha can be seen in the image-house; a stone-standing-statue is in the right side of the stone wall. The cobra-stone is a very rare creation, showing the embossed figure of cobra. Several monolith heads with plain incisions are in this religious site.
Discoveries
Ruins of an ancient building called Mayura Pirivena (Mayura Monastery) have been found to the south-west of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi and the ruins of a stupa called Dakkhina Tupa (Southern Monastery) can be seen nearby.
According to the ancient chronicles in Sri Lanka, some walls and terraces had been built surrounding the sacred tree on some occasions in the past. Mahavamsa states that King Gothabhaya (249 – 262 AD) had built a rubble wall and Dipavamsa reports about a rock-laid terrace and a lattice wall built by King Kirthi Sri Meghavarna (302 - 330 AD).
The above facts have already been established. While digging the earth for the purpose of reconstructing the present wall recently, a rubble wall with its foundation created by King Gotabhya and a rock-laid terrace together with a lattice wall constructed by King Kirthi Sri Meghavarna were found. These findings were preserved at places where they were and are now opened to public since January 2010.
Incidents
Two branches of the sacred tree were broken down due to storm in 1907 and 1911. A lunatic cut and fell down a branch in 1929. Tamil Tiger separatists shot and massacred number of Sinhales-Buddhists on the upper terrace in 1985 known as Anuradhapura massacre.[10]
Gallery
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Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi with supportive Golden Pillars
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Another view of Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi
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A view of Ancient walls found at Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi
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Preserved Ruins of ancient walls at Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi
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"Makara" pandol at an entrance to Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi
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A view of other fig trees surrounding Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi
See also
References
External links
- Discover Sri Lanka - more information & images about Sri Maha Bodhi
- Living Heritage - Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi
- UNESCO World Heritage - Sacred City of Anuradhapura
- Sri Maha Bodhi tourist site
- 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
- Buddha and the Bodhi tree
Vorlage:Buddhism in Sri Lanka Vorlage:Buddhism topics
- ↑ Shanika Sriyananda: Caring for the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi . 3. Juli 2011, abgerufen am 8. Mai 2013.
- ↑ Vorlage:Citenews
- ↑ Charith Pelpola: Oldest sacred symbol In: SundayTimes, 16 August 1998. Abgerufen im 9 May 2013
- ↑ S Venkat Narayan: Some branches of Bodh Gaya Bo tree chopped off In: Island, 2 August 2012. Abgerufen im 9 May 2013
- ↑ The Coming of the Bodhi Tree to Lanka. Abgerufen am 8. Mai 2013.
- ↑ 19: The Coming of the Bodhi-Tree, Mahavamsa. Abgerufen im 9 May 2013
- ↑ Vimukthi Sarathchandra: Arrival of the Bo-tree sapling In: DailyNews, 1 December 2009. Abgerufen im 9 May 2013
- ↑ Florence Wickramage: Mahamevuna Royal Gardens to regain ancient glory In: DailyNews, 25 April 2002. Abgerufen im 9 May 2013
- ↑ Then and now, spreading its sacredness worldwide In: SundayTimes, 20 February 2011. Abgerufen im 9 May 2013
- ↑ a b Prof. T. G. Kulatunga: Anuradhapura Atamasthanaya. Tarangi Prints, Maharagama 2003, Kap. 1, S. 8–9 (singhalesisch).