Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi

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The sacred Bodhi tree and the altar

Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi ( Sinhala : ජය ශ්‍රී මහා බොධිය ) is a sacred fig tree in Mahamevnāwa Park in Anuradhapura , Sri Lanka . Tradition says that it was a branch offshoot from the right main branch (Southern Branch) of the historic Sri Maha Bodhi in Bodh Gaya , India , under the Buddha , the enlightenment gained. The tree was born in 288 BC. C. planted and is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date. Today it is one of the most valuable and sacred relics of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

The fig trees that are planted around the sacred tree are used to protect against storms and animals.

In April 2014, the government issued a ban on construction work within 500 meters of the tree.

Religious meaning

Buddhists in Sri Lanka visit the sacred Bodhi tree and pray and make sacrifices there. Especially as part of the annual pilgrimage to Anuradhapura, the Sri Maha Bodhi is a destination. The keeper of the place offers various offerings for sale. Buddhists believe that the offerings can work miraculously. Among other things, a special vow in front of the tree should be effective for the birth of healthy children and for good harvests.

history

A photo of the lower-lying terrace Pahatha Maluwa from

In the 3rd century BC C. The offshoot was brought from India by the nun ( Thera ) Sangamitta (in Pali ; in Sanskrit : Sanghamitra), the daughter of Emperor Asoka and founder of an order of Buddhist nuns in Sri Lanka. 288 BC C. It was planted by King Devanampiya Tissa on a high terrace about 6.5 m above the ground in Mahamevnāwa Park in Anuradhapura and surrounded by a barrier.

Remodeling

Various kings have further designed this religious place. King Vasabha (65-107 AD) set up four Buddha statues on the four sides. King Voharika Tissa (214–236 AD) added metal statues. King Mahanaga (569–571 AD) built a moat around the tree and King Sena II (846–866 AD) renewed it.

The current wall was built by Ilupandeniye Athtadassi Thero in the reign of King Kirti Sri Rajasinha (r. 1747–1782) to protect the tree from wild elephants that could have destroyed it. The height of the wall is 3 m and its thickness is 1.5 m; It is 118.3 m long in north-south direction and 83.5 m long in east-west direction.

The first golden fence around the sacred tree was built by Buddhist believers from Kandy under the leadership of Yatirawana Narada Thero in 1969. The iron fence below the gold fence was built by believers from Gonagala under the leadership of Yagirala Pannananda Thero.

Statues

Two statues of the Buddha are in the picture house today; a stone stand statue is in the right side of the stone wall. Cobra stones are particularly rare works that are engraved with cobras . Several monoliths with engravings can also be found around the site.

archeology

Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in 1891

The ruins of an ancient building, the Mayura Pirivena (Mayura Monastery), were discovered southwest of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi and the ruins of a stupa ( Dakkhina Tupa , Southern Monastery) lie next door.

According to the ancient chronicles in Sri Lanka, more walls and terraces were built around the sacred tree. The Mahavamsa reports that King Gothabhaya (249–262 AD) had a wall built from rubble. The Dipavamsa reports that a stone- paved terrace and a trellis was built by King Kirthi Sri Meghavarna (302-330 AD).

During excavations to reinforce the current wall, the rubble stone wall was discovered by King Gotabhya and the terrace with the trellis by King Kirthi Sri Meghavarna. They were preserved and opened to the public in January 2010.

Misfortunes

Two large branches broke off in storms in 1907 and 1911. One person cut off another branch in 1929. Tamil Tigers separatists shot and massacred numerous Sinhala Buddhists on the upper terrace in 1985. This incident is known as the Anuradhapura massacre .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Shanika Sriyananda: Caring for the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi. In: sundayobserver.lk, July 3, 2011. Archived copy ( memento of the original from April 13, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.sundayobserver.lk
  2. ↑ Rajitha Weerakoon: Sanghamitta Theri forged the liberation of Lankan women . In: SundayTimes , December 11, 2011. Retrieved January 29, 2019. 
  3. ↑ Charith Pelpola: Oldest sacred symbol . In: SundayTimes , August 16, 1998. Retrieved January 29, 2019. 
  4. ^ The Coming of the Bodhi Tree to Lanka . Retrieved May 8, 2013.
  5. ↑ 19: The Coming of the Bodhi-Tree , Mahavamsa. Retrieved May 9, 2013. 
  6. ↑ Florence Wickramage: Mahamevuna Royal Gardens to regain ancient glory . In: DailyNews , April 25, 2002. Archived from the original on October 27, 2004. Retrieved May 9, 2013. 
  7. ^ Then and now, spreading its sacredness worldwide . In: SundayTimes , February 20, 2011. Retrieved May 9, 2013. 
  8. ↑ a b Prof. TG Kulatunga: 1 . In: Anuradhapura Atamasthanaya . Tarangi Prints, Maharagama 2003, pp. 8-9 (accessed May 13, 2012).

Web links

Commons : Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 8 ° 20 ′ 41 ″  N , 80 ° 23 ′ 48 ″  E