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Bodhi Tree

For the tree species more generally, see Ficus religiosa.

24°41′45.29″N 84°59′29.29″E / 24.6959139°N 84.9914694°E / 24.6959139; 84.9914694

The Bodhi Tree ("tree of awakening" or "tree of enlightenment"[1]), also called the Bo tree,[2] was a large sacred fig tree (Ficus religiosa)[1][3] located in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India. Siddhartha Gautama, the spiritual teacher who became known as the Buddha, is said to have attained enlightenment, or buddhahood, circa 500 BCE, under that tree.[4] In religious iconography, the Bodhi tree is recognizable by its heart-shaped leaves, which are usually prominently displayed.[5]

The Mahabodhi tree at the Sri Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya
The Diamond throne, or Vajrashila, at the spot where the Buddha is said to have sat under the Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya
A Buddhist monk in front of the Mahabodhi tree

The original tree under which Siddhartha Gautama sat is no longer living, but the term "bodhi tree" is also applied to existing sacred fig trees.[6] The foremost example is the Mahabodhi tree growing at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, which is often cited as a direct descendant of the original tree. This tree, planted around 250 BCE, is a frequent destination for pilgrims, being the most important of the four main Buddhist pilgrimage sites.[7] The tree's leaves can be bought by pilgrims as mementos.[8]

Other holy bodhi trees with great significance in the history of Buddhism are the Anandabodhi tree at Jetavana near Sravasti, Uttar Pradesh, in northern India, and the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

  1. ^ a b Gethin, Rupert (1998). The Foundations of Buddhism. Oxford University Press. p. 22. ISBN 978-0-19-289223-2.
  2. ^ "Buddhism Fast Facts". CNN. 11 November 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  3. ^ Simon Gardner, Pindar Sidisunthorn and Lai Ee May 2011. Heritage Trees of Penang. Penang: Areca Books. ISBN 978-967-57190-6-6
  4. ^ Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam (ed.). India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 176.
  5. ^ For more on the topic see also the chapter "Buddha, Buddhism, and the bodhi tree" in Belief, Bounty, and Beauty by Albertina Nugteren. doi:10.1163/9789047415619_004
  6. ^ "Ficus religiosa – Plant Finder". missouribotanicalgarden.org. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  7. ^ "Botanic Notables: The Bodhi Tree – Garden Design". GardenDesign.com. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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