Description of the attraction
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a sacred fig tree in Anuradhapura. It is believed that this is the southern branch of the historical Bodhi Sri Maha Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya in India, under which Buddha attained enlightenment. It was planted in 288 BC and is the world's oldest man-planted tree with a known planting date. Today it is one of the sacred relics of Buddhists in Sri Lanka and revered by Buddhists around the world.
Other fig trees that surround the sacred tree protect it from storms and animals such as monkeys, bats, etc.
In the 3rd century BC. this tree was brought to Sri Lanka by Sangamita Tera, daughter of Emperor Ashoka and founder of the order of Buddhist nuns in Sri Lanka. In 249 BC, the tree was planted by King Devanampy Tiss on a high terrace about 6.5 m (21.3 ft) above the ground in Mahamevanava Park in Anuradhapura and surrounded by a fence.
Several ancient kings contributed to the development of this religious site. King Wasabha (65 - 107 AD) placed four Buddha statues on the four sides of the sacred tree. King Voharik Tissa (214 - 236 AD) erected metal statues. King Mahanaja (569 - 571 AD) built a water channel around the sacred tree.
The modern wall was built by Ilupandenie Astadassi Thero during the reign of King Kirti Shri Rajasinha to protect the tree from wild elephants that could damage it. The height of the wall is 3.0 m, the thickness is 1.5 m, the length from north to south is 118.3 m and from east to west is 83.5 m.
The first golden fence around the sacred tree was built by several Buddhist followers from Kandy under the leadership of Yatirawan Narada Thero in 1969. The iron fence was erected by the people of Gonagala under the leadership of Jagiral Pannananda Thero. The second gold fence was built under the leadership of the then Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremasingh in 2003.
Two branches of the sacred tree were broken by a storm in 1907 and 1911. A madman cut and threw a branch in 1929. Tamil terrorists shot several pious followers of the Buddha on the upper terrace in 1985.
