Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a historical sacred bo tree (Ficus religiosa) in the Mahamewuna Garden in historical city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. This is believed to be a tree grown from a cutting of the southern branch from the historical sacred bo tree, Sri Maha Bodhi, which was destroyed during Emperor Ashoka the Great time, at Buddha Gaya in India, under which Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) attained Enlightenment. The Buddhist nun Sangamitta Maha Theri, a daughter of Indian Emperor Ashoka, in 288 BC, brought the tree cutting to Sri Lanka during the reign of Sinhalese King Devanampiya Tissa. At more than 2,300 years old, it is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date. The Mahavamsa, or the great chronicle of the Sinhalese, provides an elaborate account of the establishment of the Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi on the Island and the subsequent development of the site as a major Buddhist pilgrimage site.
Today, the Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi is situated on a high terrace, about 6.5 meters above the ground, and surrounded by 4 other lower-level terraces with Bo trees called “Parivara Bodhi” planted for its protection. The site is currently administered by the Chief High Priest of Atamasthana and the Atamasthana Palakasabha, the administrative body of the Atamasthana, and receives millions of pilgrims each year. The site is open to visitors and continuously hosts numerous acts of worship throughout the year. However, access to the uppermost terrace where the bo tree is located is restricted due to the old age of the tree and various acts of vandalism it has endured throughout history, including a terrorist attack by LTTE in 1985, where around 146 pilgrims were massacred.
History
The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a sacred Bo tree, that stands in the Mahamewna Gardens in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Not only is it the closest authentic living link to Gautama Buddha, it is also the oldest human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date and a recorded history. About 2,600 years ago, Lord Gautama Buddha sat with his back against an Esathu (Asvattha) tree on the banks of the Neranjana River in Bodhgaya, India. It was at this moment, as he sat against the tree, that the Buddha is said to have achieved enlightenment. In doing so, the tree also gained a venerated status. It became known as the Bodhi tree, and pilgrims came to see it even within the lifetime of the Buddha.
Later, in 236 BC, the Buddhist nun Sanghamitta Maha Theri was sent by Emperor Asoka from India to Sri Lanka. With her, she carried a southern branch of the original sacred fig. This branch was ceremoniously presented to Devanampiya Tissa, one of the earliest kings of Sri Lanka whose reign was notable for the arrival of Buddhism. In 288 BC, Tissa planted the branch of the Bodhi tree in his Royal Park in Anuradhapura.
The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, as it became known, has since been cared for and protected by Buddhist monks and dedicated kings. Statues, water canals, golden
-
Sri Maha BodhiyaJaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a sacred bo tree in the Mahamewna Gardens, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is the southern branch from the historical Sri Maha Bodhi at Buddha Gaya in India under which Buddha attained Enlightenment. It was planted in 288 BC, and is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date.
-
RuwanweliseyaRuwanweli Maha Seya, även känd som Mahathupa (den stora Thupan), är en stupa (en halvklotformad struktur som innehåller reliker) i Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Två kvartar eller en Dona av Buddhas reliker är förvarade i stupan, vilket gör den till den största samlingen av hans reliker någonstans. Den byggdes av den singalesiska kungen Dutugemunu omkring 140 f.Kr., som blev kung av Sri Lanka efter ett krig där Chola-kungen Elāra (Ellalan) besegrades.
-
ThuparamayaThuparamaya är det första buddhistiska templet som byggdes efter mahinda thero (mahindagamanaya) ankomst till Sri Lanka. Thuparamaya Stupa ligger i det heliga området i Mahamewna-parken och är den tidigaste dagoban som byggts på ön, och dateras tillbaka till kung Devanampiya Tissas regeringstid (247-207 f.Kr.). Templet har formellt erkänts av regeringen som en arkeologisk plats i Sri Lanka.
-
LovamahapayaLovamahapaya är en byggnad belägen mellan Ruwanweliseya och Sri Mahabodiya i den antika staden Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Den är också känd som Brazen Palace eller Lohaprasadaya eftersom taket var täckt med bronsplattor. I forntiden inkluderade byggnaden en refektori och uposathagara (Uposatha-huset).
-
Abhayagiri DagobaAbhayagiri Vihāra var ett viktigt kloster för Mahayana-, Theravada- och Vajrayana-buddhismen, beläget i Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Det är en av de mest omfattande ruinerna i världen och en av de heligaste buddhistiska pilgrimsstäderna i landet.
-
JetavanaramayaJetavanarama-stupan eller Jetavanaramaya är en stupa, eller ett buddhistiskt relikvarium, belägen i ruinerna av Jetavana-klostret i UNESCO:s världsarvsstad Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Med sina 122 meter var den världens högsta stupa och den tredje högsta strukturen i världen när den byggdes av kung Mahasena av Anuradhapura (273–301).
-
Mirisawetiya StupaMirisaweti-stupan är en minnesbyggnad, en stupa, belägen i den antika staden Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Kung Dutugamunu (161 f.Kr. till 137 f.Kr.) byggde Mirisaveti-stupan efter att ha besegrat kung Elara. Efter att ha placerat Buddha-reliker i spiran gick han till Tissa Wewa för ett bad och lämnade spiran.
-
LankaramaLankarama är en stupa byggd av kung Valagamba, på en forntida plats i Galhebakada i det antika kungariket Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Ingenting är känt om stupans forntida form, och senare renoverades den. Ruinerna visar att det finns rader av stenpelare och det råder ingen tvekan om att det har byggts ett hus som omger stupan (vatadage) för att täcka den.
-
IsurumuniyaIsurumuniya is a Buddhist temple situated near to the Tissa Wewa (Tisa tank) in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. There are four carvings of special interest in this Vihara. They are the Isurumuniya Lovers, Elephant Pond and The Royal Family. The ancient Meghagiri Vihara or Meygiri Vihara is presently identified as the Isurumuni Vihara.
