Buddhist News

Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi


Siddartha Gautama Buddha is considered as the Greatest human being appeared on the earth.
 He has attained to supreme Enlightenment at the place of Bodh Gaya. This wonderful event took
place 2600 years ago, seated with his back against under an "Esathu tree" by the river Neranjana. As the ascetic Siddhartha Gauthama attained the supreme Enlightenment under the shade of the Esathu tree, this highly venerated tree came to be known as the 'Bodhi'.


The southern branch of this sacred tree in Bodh Gaya was ceremoniously brought to Sri Lanka by Arahant Sangamitra Maha Theri in 236 BC, with the patronage of great Emperor Dharmashoka.  Arahant Sangamitra Maha Theri was daughter of Emperor Dharmashoka. King Devanampiyatissa planted this Bodhi tree in his royal park "Maha Meghavana Udyanaya" in Anuradhapura, under the guidance of Arahant Mahinda Maha Thero (Sun of Emperor Dharmashoka) who brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka.  Since then, this highly sacred Bodhi comparable to the living Buddha dwells there shining with glory. The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi of Anuradhapura is the oldest living tree of the whole world with a written history.
There are special guards who look after the Bodhi Tree. This again is an age old custom continued to date by people who live in the neighborhood whose ancestors have received the land for their services. This may be probably one of the oldest surviving religious professions in the world.


Today a frame of iron crutches help to prop up the Sri Maha Bodhi. Golden railings provided further protection, and pilgrims entering the compound are strictly regulated. Still, the throng coming to view the tree was simply overwhelming.


The ancient records have provided numerous steps has been 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 4 entrances at 4 cardinal points was developed.


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.


There are several daily rituals performed at the Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi by the special staff designated for the purpose. They start early in the morning with the cleaning of the premises. According
to tradition, the official "Buddhapuja" is brought to the accompaniment of drums and offered to the Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi. "Gilanpasa" is offered in the evening. The beating of drums called "teva
hevisi" is done 3 times a day in the morning, noon and evening. The Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi is under the care of the Director of the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. The Sri Lanka Army has been
entrusted with its security

 

Bodh Gaya

"Bodh Gaya" is the place where Gautama Buddha, attained to supreme Enlightenment. It is situated in the bank of river called "Neranjana" the place was then known as Uruwela (presently Urail in Bihar).  It is most holy place which should be visited or seen by a person of devotion and which would cause awareness.
Siddhartha Gautama (Lord Buddha-to-be), had been dwelling on the banks of the Nairanjana River with five ascetic followers for six years practicing austerities. Realizing that austerities could not lead to realization he gave up them. But five ascetic companions disgusted at his seeming failure, and left him aloneand went to Sarnath.


He then moved towards the village of Senani where he was offered rice milk by a Brahmin girl, "Sujata". Accepting from a grass-cutter called Sothtiya a gift of kusa grass for a mat, the Bodhisattva (Gauthama Siddartha) took a seat under a pipal tree facing east. Here he resolved not to rise again until enlightenment was attained.


"Here on this seat my body may shrivel up,
 my skin, my bones, my flesh may dissolve,
 but my body will not move from this seat
 until I have attained Enlightenment,
 so difficult to obtain in the course of many kalpas"


As Gautama  Siddartha sat in deep meditation,  Lord of Illusion called "Wasawarthi Mara", perceiving that his power was about to be broken, rushed to distract him from his purpose. The Bodhisattva touched the earth, calling it to bear witness the countless lifetimes of virtue that had led him to this place of enlightenment. When the earth shook, confirming the truth of Gautama's words, "Wasawarthi Mara"' unleashed his army of demons. In the epic battle that ensued, Siddartha Gautama's wisdom broke through the illusions and the power of his compassion transformed the demons, weapons into flowers and Mara and all his forces fled in disarray.


That was a Full moon Vesak poya day (Month of May). After defeating  Mara's power,  Siddartha Gauthama's mind was purified by concentration, and he had obtained the three categories of supreme knowledges. The first knowledge was that of his past lives and the past lives of all beings. The second was of the laws of karma. The third was that he was free of all obstacles and released from attachments. At the time of his awakening, he realized complete insight into the cause of suffering, and the steps necessary to eliminate it.
At dawn on the very day of his Enlightenment the "Load Buddha" uttered a paean of joy (Udana) which vividly describes His transcendental moral victory and His inner spiritual experience.


"Seeking but not finding the house builder, I have had travelled through the round of countless births, Oh painful birth ever and again.
House builder, you have now been seen; you shall not build the house again. Your rafters have been broken down; your ridge pole is demolished too.
My mind has now attained the Unconditioned, Unformed Nibbana; and reached the end of every kind of craving".

About 235 years after the Enlightenment, the Greatest Buddhist Emperor called "Ashoka" visited to this place and considered to built Mahabodhi Temple. According to the history, Ashoka, as well as established a monastery, erected a diamond throne shrine at this spot with a canopy supported by four pillars over a stone representation of the "Vajrasana", the Seat of Enlightenment.


There are numbers of pilgrims visit to Bodh Gaya from all over India and  from almost every land and region where Buddhism spread such as Sri Lanka, China, Japan, Tailand, Mianmar ,Kazakhstan, Bangladesh,Vietnam etc...