CLASSIFIED | POLITICS | TERRORISM | OPINION | VIEWS

Planting a sapling from the sacred Bo tree at Temple Trees is a sacrilege.

By Charles Perera

There was a news item that a Saplin from the Sacred Bo tree at Anuradhapura is to be planted at Temple Trees. The question arises whether planting of a sapling of the Sacred Bo tree representative of the Buddha, at Temple Trees is proper given that the Temple Trees is for all purposes a private abode.
The incumbent of the Temple Trees will not necessarily be a Buddhist and the Ceremonies, Functions and Cocktails are not very “Buddhist” to have a Sacred Buddhist object (paribodhika)in its precincts.

The worship of the Bodhi Tree has a long history and it was an object named by the Buddha as an appropriate object to represent him to which people may make offerings.

The wealthy Merchant Ananthapindika constructed the Jetavana Monastery and offered it to the Buddha and his disciples. The people came to the monastery to see the Buddha and make offerings to him. When the Buddha was away from Jetavanaramaya the people who came to pay homage to him was disappointed and went back throwing away the offerings they brought with them. When this was reported to the Venerable Ananda, he went to the Buddha and asked him what should be done.

The Buddha asked Venerable Ananda to plant a sapling of the sacred Bo tree, for the people to worship in his absence and make their offerings. Venerable Ananda told Ananthapindika and had a Sapling of the Sacred Bo tree planted in Jetavanaramaya. The venerable Ananda then went to the Buddha and requested him to meditate under the tree for one night to make it really representative of the Buddha. This Bo tree at Jetavanaramaya is called the Ananda Bodhiya and its sanctity for the Buddhists, is second only to the Sacred Bo tree under which the Buddha received enlightenment.

When a sapling of the Sacred Bo tree was brought from India to Sri Lanka, the King Devanampiyatissa planted it in Anuradhapura with great ceremony and offered his kingdom to the Bo Sapling. The whole Island was decorated for the occasion on the orders of the King. The King Devanampiyatissa had 40 Bo saplings from the seeds of the original tree at Anuradhapura planted in various places in Sri Lanka. Thereafter, the Bo tree became a necessary part of worship in every temple. There is also the belief that powerful deities take abode in Bo trees and the worship of the Bo-tree is also to honour the deities.

The present day ceremony of pouring water onto the roots of the Bo tree began with King Bhatika Abhaya in the first century of the CE. The Bo tree is venerated by the Buddhists the world over expressing their devotion in different ways. The devotees visiting a temple do not forget to offer flowers, lighted sticks of incense, and lighted oil lamps ( pahan puja) to the Bo tree. Even food, water, robes, and even gold ornaments are offered to the Sacred Bo tree at Anuradhapura. A Bo-tree is worshipped by the devotees giving it respect and honour due to the living Buddha.

A Bo tree has no place as a decorative plant in a garden of a private home, even if it is worshipped by the incumbent. Therefore, the decision to plant a sapling of the Sacred Bo tree in Temple Trees-the Residence of the President, is a sacrilege, and a dishonour to the Sacred tree with a long history , that represent to the Buddhists World over the Buddha himself.

Pray the Buddhist Clergy point this out to the Presdient.

Disclaimer: The comments contained within this website are personal reflection only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the LankaWeb. LankaWeb.com offers the contents of this website without charge, but does not necessarily endorse the views and opinions expressed within. Neither the LankaWeb nor the individual authors of any material on this Web site accept responsibility for any loss or damage, however caused (including through negligence), which you may directly or indirectly suffer arising out of your use of or reliance on information contained on or accessed through this Web site.
All views and opinions presented in this article are solely those of the surfer and do not necessarily represent those of LankaWeb.com. .

BACK TO LATEST NEWS

DISCLAIMER