bodhi pooja

The veneration of the Bodhi-tree (pipal tree: ficus religiosa) has been a popular and a widespread ritual in Sri Lanka from the time a sapling of the original Bodhi-tree at Buddhagaya (under which the Buddha attained Enlightenment) was brought from India by the Theri Sanghamitta and planted at Anuradhapura during the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa in the third century B.C. Since then a Bodhi-tree has become a necessary feature of every Buddhist temple in the island.

the king

The king had the power to cause rain and among some of the sacred objects he used to achieve this objective were trees that were considered sacred. The belief that certain trees could cause rain is commonplace among primitive cultures. Relics of tree worship are found even in modern Europe. Sir James George Frazer, in his monumental work, ‘The Golden Bough’ has amassed a wealth of information about trees that have rain­making powers. (13.82)
The most sacred tree that Buddhists hold in veneration is the tree that botanists have identified as ‘ficus religiosa’. In Sanskrit and Pali, it is called the bodhi tree, because the founder of Buddhism, the Buddha, attained Enlightenment or bodhi at the foot of such a tree in Bodh Gaya (in the present North Indian state of Bihar). The Sinhalese call it the Bo tree.
The Buddhists believe that the bodhi tree is endowed with many magical powers which no other tree in the world possesses. It derives its magic from its associations with the life of the Buddha. In contagious magic, an object that has any physical link with a being is as powerful as the being himself.

Archaeological features

The Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi is situated on the highest of five terraces 21 feet above the ground level. When Walisinghe Harischandra measured the Bodhi tree at the turn of the 19th century it was 30 feet in height and the circumference of the trunk was 8 feet 2 inches. The Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi had three main trunks and by the side of the Maha Bodhi there was another with a straight trunk. There are many other Bodhi trees called Parivara Bodhi on the other terraces.

The Golden Tree

The Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi shrine is reventially referred to by the Buddhist devotees as Uda Maluwa. Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi is also referred to as Jaya Siri Maha Bo Hamuduruwo, Udamaluwe Bodhi Sami and Siri Maha Bodheen Vahanse.
The entirety of the Maha Bodhi shrine popularly known as Uda Maluwa or the upper terrace actually consists of five maluwas or terraces in ascending order from the main entrance namely; Welimaluwa, Viharamaluwa, Devalamaluwa, Udamaluwa and Ranvetamaluwa. The Welimaluwa is studded with many Bo trees which are commonly called Parivarabodhi and several shrine rooms. The largest shrine room is located in the Viharamaluwa.
The Devalage dedicated to the deity Kaludevatabandara is situated in the Devatamaluwa. Next is Udamaluwa which supports the first Ranveta or the Golden Railing. The Ranvetamaluwa lies above the Udamaluwa which is the repository of the Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi often reverentially referred to by the Sinhala Buddhists as the Rankanda or the Golden Tree.

Daily Rituals

The Maha Sangha headed by the chief priest of the Atamasthana continued to stay in Anuradhapura to look after the Maha Bodhi and to conduct the age old rituals associated with it. It is amazing that inspite of the fact that Anuradhapura was invaded, plundered, destroyed and occupied for a considerable period of time by South Indian invaders no harm was done to the Maha Bodhi while heavy damage was caused to other edifices.
Even today, four annual rituals are performed in honour of the Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi:
The Aluth Sahal Mangalaya is performed on Duruthu Full Moon Poya day in December or January when the first portion of the new harvest is offered to the Maha Bodhi.
The Nanumura Mangalaya is performed prior to Wesak Full Moon Poya Day in May wherein the Maha Bodhi is decorated with ornaments and milk rice is offered not only to the Maha Bodhi but to the Atamasthana or the eight sacred places.
A deva puja is offered to gods headed by Kalu Devata Bandara, the deity supposed to protect the Sri Maha Bodhi.
The Karti Mangalaya is performed in July or August during the annual pilgrim season.

Daramiti Perahera

On the Nikini full moon day during the months of July or August the people of Anuradhapura came to the Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi carrying bundles of firewood on their heads to light bonfires around the Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi to keep away the wild elephants who used to enter the premises to eat tender Bo leaves. These villages carrying firewood on their heads looked like a possession hence it was called Daramiti Perahera.
The Daramiti Perahera continues as an annual ritual to the Maha Bodhi even today. The custodians and the families entrusted with various duties never neglected their responsibilities nor did they abandon the Maha Bodhi.

abandoned

Around the middle of the 13th century with the collapse of the Rajarata civilization as a consequence of a series of South Indian invasions, sacred places in Anuradhapura were encroached by the jungle. Nevertheless, Anuradhapura was not completely depopulated.
While the majority migrated towards the wet zone some courageous Sinhalese continued to live in isolated pockets around small village tanks battling against malaria, drought and wild animals. Yet, they looked after the sacred places especially the Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi to the best of their ability.

maha bodhi

The Maha Bodhi was saved in spite of doctrinal differences between the Mahavihara and the Abhayagirivihara because it was a common object of worship for both sects. In fact King Mahasena not only protected the Maha Bodhi but had taken steps to develop the Maha Bodhi shrine.

paracrama bahu

King Parakramabahu the Great renovated the Vatadage of the Maha Bodhi complex. Even though King Mahasena (272 to 301 AC) razed the Maha Vihara to the ground apparently no damage was done to the Maha Bodhi.

dutugemunu

King Dutugemunu (161-137 BC) is said to have performed an unprecedented offering to the Maha Bodhi at a cost of 100,000 gold coins. According to the Mahavamsa King Vijayabahu the First (1070-1111 AC) who defeated the Cholas and unified the whole country renovated the Bodhigara at Anuradhapura.

after the

After the establishment of the Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi it was accorded the veneration similar to the living Buddha because there was a belief that it was directly connected to kingship. The ancient chronicles have recorded various steps taken by many kings for the protection of the Maha Bodhi and its precincts. Also the royalty considered it their duty to attend to improvement and restoration work as and when necessary.
In the subsequent centuries, around the high terrace on which the sapling of the Maha Bodhi was planted a Bodhigara and an architectural structure with railings had been constructed. Also an outer wall enclosing the complex with four entrances at four cardinal points was developed.

dispatching

The dispatching of the Maha Bodhi to Sri Lanka had been associated with great celebrations. Emperor Asoka himself had been present at the Port of Tamalitta when the ship carrying the Maha Bodhi Sapling left the shores of India. The Maha Bodhi was welcomed with great honour and respect at the Port of Jambukolapattana in Sri Lanka. King Devanampiyatissa himself was present at the port to receive the Maha Bodhi. According to the Mahavamsa Emperor Asoka at the Port said, "I have honoured the Maha Bodhi by bestowing my kingdom thrice to the Bodhi; let my friend King Devanampiyatissa too honour the Bodhi by bestowing his kingdom." The road from Anuradhapura to the Port of Jambukolapattana had been gaily decorated. Different classes of artisans who were required to perform various services for the Maha Bodhi also accompanied the Sapling.

historical

Historical and literary records indicate that King Devanampiyatissa sent his nephew Arittha on the important mission of bringing Theri Sangamitta to Sri Lanka to establish the Bhikkuni Sasana and along with her the Maha Bodhi Sapling. The Mahavamsa (5th century AC), the Samanthapasadika (5 century AC) and the Maha Bodhivamsa (12th century AC) describe the miracles that are said to have occurred at the time the Maha Bodhi Sapling was obtained from the parent Bodhi Tree, conveyed ceremonially and established at Anuradhapura amidst great pomp and pageantry.

The Mahavamsa or the Great Chronicle of the Sinhalese provides an elaborate account of the establishment of the Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi in the island. Bodhi means wisdom that understands the four Noble Truths. Thus the tree which assisted Lord Buddha to achieve wisdom or enlightenment is called Bodhi.

The Sacred Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura is reckoned as the oldest surviving historical tree in the world. It was brought to Sri Lanka by the Theri Sangamitta, daughter of Emperor Asoka and was planted in the Mahameghavana Park in Anuradhapura in 249 BC by King Devanampiyatissa. It is said to be the southern branch of the Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi at Buddha Gaya in India under which Lord Buddha attained Enlightenment

Anuradhapura is known in the Buddhist world as the home of the oldest historically documented tree in the world It is called the BODHI or BO TREE, literally ,the Tree of wisdom . It is the first Eight Holy Sites(ata masthana)of the sacred city of Anuradhapura venerated by the pilgrim who visit this sacred city today .Bodhi tree fall in to the class of tree known as vanuspati ,the lords of the jungle , large trees bearig fruits apparently without blossoms

Though a tree , the buddhist look up to it as a living being , the buddha him self in symbolic form.Thus the Buddhist calls it 'jaya sri maha bodhin vahanse'or 'siri ma bo hamuduruwo' village folk call it 'uda maluwe bodhi sami' the lord of the upper terrace, because it occupies the uppermost of the terraces(malu) at site it was brought to this island three centuries before the dawn of the Christian era from bodhi-gaya or buddha-gaya in the modern state of Bihar in india the sapling that was brought came from the original tree under which the Indian prince , Siddhartha,sat when he became the Buddha, the one who has attained enlighnment,bodhi.sami-bodhi or abhi-sami-bodhi.

The tree belongs to the family of trees known as 'asvathu' in sanskrit,assatthai pali, oesatu in sinhala,'fig in English and 'ficus'in latin .Thus the botanists have named it 'ficus religiosa' retaining its religious significance in India ,this tree was considered the cosmic Tree of life . it was also venerated as an abode of gods . the original tree at Buddha-gaya is no more and as a resalt the tree in Anuradhapura became the oldest tree in the world that has a historical record going back to the days of the Buddha . There are chronicles written both in pali and sinhala known as 'Bodhi vamsa' that record the history of this tree in detail.

The saping of the original tree was brought to this island by a nun,Theri Sangamiththa, the sister of Thera mahinda, who introduced Buddhism to this land .Both were children of the indian emperor Asoka, who eaned a name as the greatest of kings the only king who gave up war after victory The english writer' H.G.Wells,says in his 'The outline of history' that 'Amidst the tens of names of monarchs that crowd the colums of history their majesties and graciousnesses ,and serenities and royal highnesses and the like ,the name of the monastery known as Maha vihara the Grest monastery ,in the royal park of Maha Megha-vana. It is said that all the bodhi tree in the island to day have their genetic links with this tree

It is a sacred tree that has an aura of magic .Buddhists belive that it has the power to cause rain , and to bestow childrento the chidless. Almost every day one sees ,in its shade,women making vows to be blessed with children and the many coconut-sprouts that are plased at its foot to fulfill these vows which show silently that their wishes have been answerd. This tree is also belived to bethe abode of a god named ,Kalu Devatha Bandara.