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The BODHI TREE

Prince Siddharta attained Buddhahood [Full Enlightenment] in  528 BC; on the Vaisakha full moon day sitting under this Peepul [Bodhi Tree]. The Bodhi tree, is the fifth generation plant of the original ficus tree under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment in 528 BCE, that is after nine years of ascetic life, is one of the most revered sacred places for Buddhists.

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The Bodhi Tree, also known as “Peepal tree” was a large and very old sacred fig tree [Ficus religiosa] located in Bodh Gaya, under which Siddhartha Gautama, attained Enlightenment [in 528 BC], and became to be known as Gautama Buddha, or just Buddha. The term “Bodhi Tree” is also widely applied to currently existing Sacred Fig [Ficus religiosa] growing at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya.

The existing Bodhi Tree is said to be a direct descendant from the original specimen of the tree. It is believed that Ashoka’s wife had it secretly cut down because she became jealous of the time Ashoka spent there. But it grew again. A shoot of the original Bodhi tree was taken to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century B.C. by Bhikkhuni Sangamitta, daughter of Ashoka, where the Lankan king Devanampiyatissa planted it at the Mahavihara monastery in Anuradhapura where it still flourishes today. A sapling of the tree was again brought to Bodh Gaya and planted after the original tree died. So the present tree is considered only as the descendant of the original tree.

 

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VAJRASANA / Diamond Throne  

About 250 years after Buddha’s Enlightenment, the Emperor Ashoka visited the site in the 3rd century BC. He is said to have established the first temple at Bodh Gaya. Emperor Ashoka, also erected the Seat of Enlightenment – Vajrasana [Diamond Throne] – at the spot where Buddha attained Enlightenment. It is made up of red sandstone. The Venerable Ashwaghosa in his Buddhacarita revealed that this is the Navel of the Earth. Fa-Hien mentioned that all the past Buddhas attained Enlightenment here and the future Buddhas too will attain the enlightenment on this spot.

 

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Around the Bodhi tree and the Mahbodhi temple there are quadrangular stone railings around 0.2m high with four bars including the top piece. These are of two types and can be distinguished from each other in style and material used. The older set is dated to about 150 BC and made of sandstone. While the latter set is probably of the Gupta period (300-600 AD) and constructed from course granite. The older set has a number of designs representing scenes from the purchase of Jetavana by Ananthapindika at Sravasti, Lakshmi being bathed by elephants, Surya riding a chariot drawn by four horses, etc. On the latter set there are figures of stupas, Garudas, etc. In most of these railings lotus motifs are commonly used.

 

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Inside the temple there is a colossal image of the Buddha in the Bhumisparsha Mudra [“touching the ground pose”] . This image is said to be 1700 years old and is facing east exactly at the place where the Buddha in meditation with his back to the Bodhi tree was enlightened.

 

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SEVEN SACRED SITES at MAHABODHI TEMPLE COMPLEX

The Mahabodhi Temple Complex consists of the main temple, and seven sacred places within an enclosed area, and also a Lotus Pond, outside the enclosure. These places was the location where Buddha spent in meditation after attaining Enlightenment. They are connected by pathways and the whole complex is laid out with landscaped lawns and flowering trees. The Seven Sacred Places are as follows:
[I] Bodhi Pallanka / The Place of Enlightenment.
[II] The Animeshlochan Chaitya / Prayer Hall
[III] Ratnacankamana / Cloister Walk
[IV] Ratanaghara / The Place of Basic Contemplation
[V] Ajapala Nigrodha Tree / Banyan Tree
[VI] Muchalinda Sarovar / The Abode of Snake King
[VII ] Rajayatna /A Kind of Forest Tree

[I]The most important of the sacred places is the giant Bodhi Tree, to the west of the main temple, a supposed direct descendant of the original Bodhi Tree under which Buddha spent his First Week and had his enlightment. [II] To the north of the central path, on a raised area, is the Animeshlochan Chaitya [prayer hall] where Buddha is believed to have spent the Second Week. [III] Buddha spent the Third Week walking eighteen paces back and forth in an area called Ratnachakrama [the Jewelled Ambulatory], which lies near the north wall of the main temple. Raised stone lotuses carved on a platform mark his steps. [IV] The spot where he spent the Fourth Week is Ratnaghar Chaitya, located to the north-east near the enclosure wall. [V] Immediately after the steps of the east entrance on the central path there is a pillar which marks the site of the Ajapala Nigrodh Tree, under which Buddha meditated during his Fifth Week, answering the queries of Brahmans. [VI] He spent the Sixth Week next to the Lotus Pond to the south of the enclosure, [VII] and the Seventh Week was spent under the Rajyatana Tree, to the south-east of the main temple, currently marked by a tree.

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[I] Bodhi Pallanka / The Place of Enlightenment.

Prince Siddharta attained Buddhahood [Full Enlightenment] in the year 623 BC on the Vaisakha full moon day sitting under this Peepul [Bodhi Tree] .

The most important of the sacred places is the sacred Bodhi tree, located at the west end of the main temple. It is here that Buddha achieved Enlightenment and spent his first week in meditation.

The current tree is supposed to be the fifth direct descendant of the original Bodhi Tree, which was earlier destroyed several times by man-made and natural disasters.  Emperor King Ashoka’s period, his daughter, Sanghamitta, took a branch from the Bodhi tree from Bodh Gaya to Sri Lanka, and planted in a place near the city of Anuradhapura. That Bodhi tree still grows at the same place, and is the oldest continually documented tree in the world.  The existing Mahabodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya is believed to be grown from the sapling brought from the original Bodhi tree from Sri Lanka.

There is a platform built in between the Maha Bodhi Tree and the Temple. It is a large rectangular red-sand stone slab, thought to be put at the exact place where Gotama Buddha sat for deep meditation and attained the enlightment.  This platform is called Vajrasana [Diamond Throne],  and is made of red sand stone in the 3rd century B.C. by Emperor Asoka.  The Venerable Ashwaghosa in his Buddhacarita revealed that this is the Navel of the Earth. Fa-Hien mentioned that all the past Buddhas attained Enlightenment here and the future Buddhas too will attain the enlightenment on this spot.

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[II] The Animeshlochan Chaitya /  Prayer Hall

The Animeshlochan Chaitya [prayer hall] is located to the north of the central path of the Mahabodhi temple. It is believed to be the place where the Buddha spent the second week in meditation in standing posture gazing at the Bodhi Tree with motionless eyes.

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[III] Cankamana / Cloister Walk.

Lord Buddha spent the third week of meditation here, walking back and forth, from the Bodhi tree to unblinking spot. On the platform lotuses indicate the places where the Lord’s feet rested while walking.

 

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[IV] Ratanaghara / The Place of Basic Contemplation.

Lord Buddha spent the Fourth week here in mediatation reflecting on the Patthana or the Causal law. It is a place where Buddha sat for deeper meditation during the fourth week after enlightment, and the blue, yellow, red, white and orange rays emanated from his body. These colors are used in the present day Buddhist flag.

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[V] Ajapala Nigrodha Tree / Banyan Tree

Lord Buddha spent the Fifth week under this tree in meditation after Enlightment. Here he replies to Brahmana that only by one’s deeds one becomes a Brahmana, not by birth.

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[VI] Muchalinda Sarovar / The Abode of Snake King.

Lord Buddha spent the Sixth week in meditation here. While he was meditating, severe thunder storm broke out. To protect Him from the violent thunder and rain even the creatures came out for his safety. Muchalinda, the snake king of the Lake came out and protected the Buddha from the violent wind and rain with his hood.

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[VII ] Rajayatna / A Kind of Forest Tree

After Enlightenment Lord Buddha spent the Seventh week here in mediation. At the end of mediatation, two merchants Tapussa and Bhallika offered rice cake and honey to the Lord and took refuge – Buddham Saranam Gacchami, Dhammam Saranam Gacchami [Sangha was not founded then].

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