Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi
One of the most sacred relics of the Buddhists in Sri Lanka and respected by Buddhists all over the world, Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi of Anuradhapura, is the oldest living tree in documented history of the world. It is said to be the southern branch from the historical Bodhi tree Sri Maha Bodhi at Bodh Gaya in India under which Lord Buddha attained Enlightenment. It was planted in 288 BCF and is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date. It was brought from Bodh Gaya in India by the Ven Sanghamitta Therini, a sister of Arhant Mahinda who introduced the Teachings of the Buddha to Sri Lanka. The area around the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, the Brazen Palace and Ruwanweliseya Dagoba were once probably part of the Great Temple. It has been tended by a continuous succession of guardians for over 2000 years, even during the periods of Indian occupation.
