Bodhi Tree, Sacred fig tree in Bodh Gaya, India
The Bodhi Tree stands on a raised stone platform in the rear section of the Mahabodhi Temple complex, surrounded by a low stone balustrade. Its heart-shaped leaves cast shadows over the gray ground, where pilgrims kneel or sit facing the trunk.
The current fig was planted in 1881 after a storm severely damaged the previous tree. The original tree witnessed the enlightenment in the 6th century BCE and has been replaced through cuttings over generations.
Pilgrims from Buddhist countries sit daily beneath the branches to meditate or chant prayers. Red and gold cloth often hangs from the trunk, and worshippers bring incense or small lamps as signs of devotion.
Access is through the main entrances of the temple complex, where bags are checked and electronic devices sometimes restricted. Visitors should wear modest clothing and remove shoes before stepping onto the platform.
Botanists have found that cuttings from this tree grow in temples across Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Japan, preserving genetic links to the original lineage. Monks often carry soil from this site back to their monasteries to plant new seedlings.
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