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Sacred Tree
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3 sites
Browse this type across countries, traditions, and sacred landscapes.
Chêne à Guillotin
Concoret, Bretagne, France
Chêne à Guillotin in Concoret, Bretagne, France.
Hêtre de Ponthus
Concoret, Bretagne, France
Hêtre de Ponthus in Concoret, Bretagne, France.
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi
Anuradhapura, North Central Province, Sri Lanka
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a sacred tree of sacred significance. Approximate coordinates: 8.34480, 80.39724. Attributes: natural, cultural, pilgrimage, ceremonial. Tradition: Buddhism. Associated figure: Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha). Mythological context: It is believed to be a tree grown from a cutting of the southern branch from the historical sacred bo tree, Sri Maha Bodhi, under which Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) attained enlightenment.. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Tree is a sacred bo tree (Ficus religiosa) in Mahamewuna Garden in the historical city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is believed to be a tree grown from a cutting of the southern branch from the historical sacred bo tree, Sri Maha Bodhi, which was destroyed during the time of Emperor Ashoka, at Bodh Gaya in India, under which Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) attained enlightenment. In 236 BC, the Buddhist nun Sangamitta Maha Theri, a daughter of Indian Ashoka, brought the tree cutting to Sri Lanka during the reign of Sinhalese King Devanampiya Tissa.[1] At more than 2,300 years old, it is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date. The Mahāvaṃsa, or the great chronicle of the Sinhalese, provides an elaborate account of the establishment of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi on the Island and the subsequent development of the site as a major Buddhist pilgrimage site. Today, the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is situated on a high terrace, about 6.5 meters above the ground, and surrounded by 4 other lower-level terraces with Bo trees called Parivara Bodhi planted for its protection. The site is currently administered by the Chief High Priest of Atamasthana and the Atamasthana Palakasabha, the administrative body of the Atamasthana. It receives millions of pilgrims each year. The site is open to visitors and continuously hosts numerous acts of worship throughout the year. However, access to the uppermost terrace where the bo tree is located is restricted due to the old age of the tree and various acts of vandalism it has endured throughout history, including a terrorist attack by the LTTE in 1985, where around 146 pilgrims were massacred. Located in Anuradhapura, North Central Province, Sri Lanka.