Thus the Sinhala Buddhist calls it ‘Jaya Sri Maha Bodhin Vahanse’, or ‘Siri Maha Bo Hamuduruvo’. It is the Buddha himself in symbolic form. As a result, it is more than a mere tree. The bodhi tree is one of the three symbols of Buddhist worship, the other two being the stupa and the Buddha image. Bodhi trees belong to the class of trees known as ‘vanaspati’, lords of the jungle, majestic trees that bear fruits apparently without blossoms. It is considered the first among the Eight Sacred Sites (Ata Masthana) of this scared city, because it is the one and only living object among these sacred sites. The sacred city of Anuradhapura, the first Royal Capital of the Island Kingdom, and the first UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sri Lanka, is known in the Buddhist world as the home of the oldest historically documented tree in the world, Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi. The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi of Anuradhapura is the oldest living tree of the whole world with a written history. Since then, this highly sacred Bodhi comparable to the living Buddha dwells there shining with glory. King Devanampiyatissa planted this Bodhi tree in his Royal Park ‘Maha Meghavana Udyanaya’ in Anuradhapura, under the guidance of Arahant Mihindu Maha Thero. The southern branch of this sacred tree in Bodhgaya was ceremoniously brought to Sri Lanka by Arahant Sanghamitta MahaTheree in 236 BC, with the patronage of Emperor Dharmasoka.
As the ascetic Siddhartha attained the Sambodhi Gnana under the shade of the Esathu tree, this highly venerated tree came to be known as the ‘Bodhi’. This wonderful event took place 2600 years ago seated with his back against under an Esathu tree by the river Neranjana in the Bodhgaya, India. The esteemed one achieved the eternal bliss of Samma Sambodhi or the Enlightenment, ending the continuous circle of Samsara, the existence.
Lord Gautama Buddha is considered as the Greatest Human Being appeared on earth.
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