The Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura is not just a tree; it is the living heart of Sri Lankan Buddhism. Recognized as the oldest human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date (288 BC according to the Mahavamsa, though traditionally cited as 236 BC in some contexts), it is a direct sapling from the original Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India, under which the Buddha attained enlightenment.
The Sacred Sapling
The arrival of the Bodhi tree was a diplomatic and spiritual milestone. It was brought to Sri Lanka by Sanghamitta Theri, the daughter of the Indian Emperor Ashoka and the sister of Mahinda Thero, who had introduced Buddhism to the island. She carried the sapling in a golden vase, traveling by ship to the port of Jambukola Pattana in the north.
A Royal Reception
King Devanampiya Tissa received the sacred sapling with unparalleled reverence. Historical accounts describe him wading into the sea neck-deep to receive the golden vase from the ship. He then escorted it in a grand procession to the Mahamewna Gardens in Anuradhapura, where it was planted with great ceremony.
The Living Relic
For over two millennia, the Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi has been continuously worshipped and protected. It has survived invasions, storms, and the shifting sands of time. Unlike architectural monuments that can be rebuilt, this tree is a living link to the Buddha himself. It is one of the Atamasthana (Eight Sacred Places) and remains a site of daily pilgrimage, where devotees offer prayers, water, and golden fences to protect its sacred branches.