The Oldest Tree with a Written History

‘Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi’ in Sri Lanka

‘Tree-ring’ counting and radiocarbon dating are the two common methods of estimating the age of trees. As per these measures the oldest living tree in the world is ‘Great Basin bristlecone pine’, located in the higher mountains of California. The tree’s estimated age is over 4,851 years and apart from this many other living trees in the world have survived many centuries.

The age of the trees was mostly discovered through scientific determinations. However, in Sri Lanka the tree called ‘Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi ’ has written evidence for over two millennia. The tree was planted in 249 BC by King ‘Devanampiya Tissa’ and that is approximately 2300 years ago. As per the carbon dating the tree’s estimated age is around 2,305 years. The history of ‘Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi’ is associated with the Lord Buddha’s enlightenment which dated back to 2,564 years from today.

The three important events of Lord Buddha’s life, birth, enlightenment, and death happened under trees. At the same time, he insisted on the importance of the trees throughout his teachings. Once he preached, if a man who sits under a tree for shelter, and then breaks a branch of the same tree, should be considered as an ingratitude, ungrateful person. Lord Buddha taught to show gratitude even to the trees.

Similarly, he preached to learn the generosity from the trees, as it gives shelter even to the person who comes with an axe to cut it down. Hence, he asked to protect the trees as much as possible as it gives food, shelter, and protection to human beings.

Lord Buddha obtained enlightenment under the shelter of the ‘Bodhi tree’ which is also known as the ‘Esathu Tree’. In the second week of enlightenment, Lord Buddha looked at the ‘Bodhi tree’ for a whole week as an act of gratitude for giving the shelter to obtain enlightenment. To commemorate this act of gratitude the Buddhists around the world worship not only the ‘Bodhi tree’ in India, but all the similar species ‘Esathu’ trees.

The scientific name of ‘Bodhi’ or ‘Esathu’ is Ficus religiosa or sacred fig and it’s a species of fig, native to the Indian Subcontinent and grown in Sri Lanka as well. The meaning of ‘Bodhi’ is ‘awakening’, since the tree sheltered the Lord Buddha to obtain enlightenment it’s called ‘Bodhi tree’ or tree of awakening.

Around 100 years after Lord Buddha’s death, Emperor Asoka ruled India. As the Emperor became a follower of Buddhism, he started to spread the message of Lord Buddha not only in India but also to nearby countries as Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, and Burma. Buddhism spread to farther Eastern countries as China, Japan, and Korea during this period, with the initiations of Emperor Asoka.

Emperor Asoka’s son and daughter, ‘Mahinda’ and ‘Sangamitta’, also became Buddhist priests with the understanding of Buddhism. The emperor’s son, priest ‘Mahinda’ was asked to bring the message of Buddhism to Sri Lanka during the reign of king ‘Devanampiya Tissa’ in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan king accepted the message of Buddhism with great honor and the religion spread throughout the country rapidly.

The teachings of Buddhism were precisely connected with the agriculture-based lifestyles of Sri Lankans and Buddhism soon became part of their lives. ‘Village and Buddhist temple’ became the center of the community, as villagers and priests in the temples were interconnected. Due to this new formation of the society, Buddhists in Sri Lanka consider the priest ‘Mahinda’ as the ‘second Buddha’. As Buddhism blended well with the Sri Lankan culture, up until today Buddhism has been the main religion in the country for more than thousands of years.

As Buddhism became a part of Sri Lankan’s life, the king of Sri Lanka ‘Devanampiya Tissa’ wanted something valuable to be worshiped as a symbol of Buddha. He informed his suggestion to priest ‘Mahinda’ and he too agreed on that. As a result of the king’s request, persist Mahinda’s sister, priest ‘Sangamitta’ was asked to bring a sapling of sacred ‘Bodhi’ tree from India.

As per the instruction of his brother ‘Mahinda’, ‘Sangamitta’ planted the right sapling of ‘Bodhi’ tree in a golden vase and carried it from Gaya, the place Lord Buddha enlightened, to Pataliputta and then to Tamalitti in Bengal. From the port, in Tamalitti the ship came to the port of ‘Jambukola’ or ‘Dambakola Patuna’ in Jaffna, Sri Lanka.

The King of Sri Lanka, ‘Devanampiya Tissa’ was delighted to see the ship that carried the ‘Bodhi’ sapling and went towards the ship in the ocean to accept the tree. It’s said that the Buddhist monks of Sri Lanka, wished the safety of the king and determined to calm down the rough sea waves, as the king going towards the ship in the water. The legend says the reason for the calm and smooth sea of ‘Dambakola Patuna’ in Jaffna is due to this wish of the monks, even as today.

As per the history books, the King went in the sea up until his neck and then have accepted the golden vase of ‘Bodhi’ sapling as a precious gift. From Jaffna the ‘Bodhi’ sapling carried to Anuradhapura over 218km by foot and planted in the king’s garden at Anuradhapura. Thereafter the ‘Bodhi’ sapling was known as the ‘Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi’ and later a golden fence was built around the tree. The ‘Bodhi’ sapling has grown to a huge tree and surrounded by many other ‘Bodhi’ trees grown from the original sapling. Anyone can visit the ‘Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi’ in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka to see a living tree, older than 2500 years. Since the tree is growing old, golden supporters have given lately to lift the sapling.

The new plants grown from the ‘Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi’, has planted all around the country and plant hardening has done with advanced technology to preserve the tree for the future. From the day it was planted, the Buddhists all around the country worship the ‘Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi’ and offer countless offerings every day. As a tradition, all the Kings in the history went in front of ‘Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi’ before any important event in the country. This tradition is continuing as all the Presidents and Prime Ministers go to worship ‘Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi’ as soon after the swearing ceremony.

Lately in India the original ‘Bodhi’ tree was poisoned and cut down several times during political disputes. Each time it was destroyed a new ‘Bodhi’ tree had grown in the same place. However, since it was cut down, the oldest tree with a written history is the ‘Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi’, planted in Anuradhapura Sri Lanka. There are many historic books which provide detailed information about the tree and at the same time, many people have written stories, poems and praises about the tree as well.

Commonly the species of fig have lots of leaves, including the ‘Bodhi’ tree and this makes the shelter of the tree incomparably cold and comfortable. Therefore, many find it’s a calm and quiet place to meditate to improve the mindfulness, the practice taught by Lord Buddha.

For many years, thousands of people worshiped the tree and protected it as if their own life, and as a result none could destroy it even during the 30 years of civil war. ‘Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi’ is like the living Lord Buddha to Buddhists in Sri Lanka and it reflects the unfallen, teachings of Lord Buddha.

During the reign of King ‘Devanampiya Tissa’, the king offered the country to ‘Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi’ as it is the most precious, he could offer. Therefore, the Sri Lankans believe that ‘Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi’ is protecting the country from all misfortunes and the wishes made in front of the tree believed to come true. Therefore, the people in Sri Lanka have a wish, which says ‘May you get the blessings of ‘Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi’!

May the deadly diseases fade away and may all the people in the world live in peace. May all the people get the blessings of ‘Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi’ for every good deed!!