As part of his visit to Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 6 visited the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi temple in the ancient city of Anuradhapura.
Key Highlights
- The sacred Bo tree (Ficus religiosa) is revered as the oldest living cultivated plant in the world, believed to have grown from a branch of the Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya, under which Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment.
- The sapling was brought to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BCE by Sanghamitta (Sanghamitra), daughter of Emperor Ashoka and a Buddhist nun. Her journey remains commemorated in Sri Lanka as Uduvapa Poya, an annual festival celebrated on the December full moon.
- The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi stands as a central symbol of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and is a prominent pilgrimage site.
- It is situated in Anuradhapura, a former political and religious capital that thrived for over 1,300 years until its abandonment following an invasion in 993 CE.
- Today, Anuradhapura is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its historical and spiritual significance.
