Bodhi tree was first cut after the Buddha's death was due to King Ashoka. King Ashoka in the early days of his reign as a heathen and wishing to destroy the marks of the Buddha, summoned an army, he led the army here to destroy the Bodhi tree . He cut the tree to its roots, chopped the trunk, branches and branches into small pieces of wood and poured them west. Then he ordered a Brahmin to burn the woodpile to make offerings to Brahma. Not long after the bouts of smoke disappeared, it was strange, a Bodhi tree was sprouted from the ashes with sparkling branches of feathers, this tree was called "the Bodhi tree from riddle".

Buddhism is one of the oldest religions in the world. In India, Buddhism penetrated the hearts of Indians for about 1500 years and began to see hostility of the Arabs, who invaded India more than 1,000 years ago.

After 700 years, Buddhism was completely destroyed in the land where it was born, relics such as Bodhgaya (Buddha-Gaya), Sarnath (Benares), Linh Thu Mountain (Rajagriha) etc ... are all smashed to pieces. Buddhist disciples have fled to exile through the mountainous country of Tibet, bringing with them the Buddhist scriptures. Therefore, later when recovered, Buddhist scriptures in India were found a lot in Tibet.

Bodh Gaya was forgotten by history for several centuries, and no Buddhist pilgrimage group came to pay homage to pay homage. However, Buddhism in India is gradually flourishing today, Bodhgaya in general and Bodhi tree - where Buddha meditates and enlightenment in particular are also being restored. In celebration of the Buddha's enlightenment day, I would like to introduce some features of the Bodhi tree's evolution from the time of the Buddha until now.

Bodhi tree is called "asvatthi" or banyan tree (Pipal, pippali). According to the botanical definition, the Bodhi tree is "ficus religiosa", meaning the symbol for the wisdom and enlightenment of the Buddha, so it should be called "the enlightened tree," or commonly called "the Bodhi tree". "[1]

According to archeologists, this tree was considered sacred right from the historical dawn of the Indus civilization. In the Rig Vedan, the oldest religious sutta of the Aryans in India, it is said that this Bodhi tree was revered as a sacred object from that time. [2]

In fact, before Buddhism appeared in India, this tree was also grown a lot in this country. People in the old days respected and abstained from big objects such as ancient trees, gigantic caves, massive mountains ... because they thought that it was the abode of gods, spirits and even lice of evil demons. During the time when Buddhism appeared in India, the belief in these trees was the dwelling place for gods and demons to penetrate even deeper. And in Buddhist scriptures such as Vimanavatthu and Petavatthu also told many stories related to the residence of gods and demons on trees.

The concept of tree worship reaches its peak in the Bodhi tree worship. Its importance lies not only in the majestic nature of the tree but also the combination of Buddha's greatest attainment, enlightenment. Therefore, the Bodhi tree from an ordinary tree has been regarded as a symbol of Buddha's very presence and enlightenment. There was an event about the Bodhi tree that happened as soon as the Buddha reached enlightenment. Buddha spent a whole week (seven days) looking at the Bodhi tree with grateful eyes the tree has protected him the nights of storms and storms, the sunny days like fire during the past time, for until he reached enlightenment. All these associations have created the characteristics of the Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya - the enlightened tree.

Anguttara Nikaya's thesis states that the Bodhi tree must be worshiped, except if the Bodhi tree branch obstructs the roof, the altar, or it rots, or the perching bird rests on the dirty tree. sanctuary temples we are allowed to cut away. According to Sri Lankan law presented to the Dutch government in the late 18th century, anyone who destroys a pagoda, a bodhi tree and religious property will be charged with death by the Sri Lankan government (Sinhala). 3]

In India, every religious site is a common cultural heritage, not only for India but for all humanity, so it is very well protected and every holy place has a general notice: If anyone destroys this heritage, it will be severely punished. There are strict laws of the Indian government.

Commenting on the current Bodhi tree worship, Buddhist scholar Rhys Davids cautiously reminds us that worship of external objects such as trees is not really beneficial, but because this Bodhi tree is meant to symbolize Buddha's life and his ultimate enlightenment. Today, the form of rituals surrounding the Bodhi root is growing and not diminishing even over the centuries.

Those who perform the Bodhi tree worship rituals are called "Bodhi Puja". Bodhi Puja in the spiritual sense is "enlightenment" (bodhi), meaning the enlightenment of the Buddha. But in practice, "bodhi" only means a Bodhi tree, is one of the ancient trees only. Therefore, the main meaning of worship and practice seems to be lost, which has changed into the form of tree worship that prevailed in India and everywhere throughout pre-Buddhist times. Today, Bodhi Puja is prevalent in sacred places of worship and has formed an official formal ceremony. Beautiful wreaths, sparkling candles, fragrant incense smoke, colorful flags waving around the Bodhi tree, under the Bodhi tree and around ... made the Bodhi tree sacred. religious.

In the Great Nirvana Sutta (Maha-Parinibbana) of the School of Sutta: [4] The Buddha declared to Anan that Bodhi Bodhgaya, where the Bodhi tree was one of the four holy places that the Buddha with devotion should come to admire the prostration. He added: "Those who cascade with confidence when going to this worship will be reborn in the realm of peace".

[5] The sacredness of the bodhi tree as a symbol of enlightenment and the embodiment of Buddha himself. Once, when his disciples came to pay homage to the Buddha at Jetavana Monastery (in Sravasti), then the Anathapindaka rich monk told the A-nan elder to the Buddha to establish a religious place. strictly to offer aroma of camellia ... while Buddha was away from the Jetavana monastery. From this, the Buddha extracted a Bodhi branch from the Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya to plant at the gate of Jetavana monastery. Later, to make the tree more sacred, Buddha meditated under this bodhi tree for a whole night. And that Bodhi tree also became an object of worship.

In that sense, this Bodhi tree is perceived not only as an object of respect for Buddhists but also as a symbolic representation of his own life and of his great attainment. Bodhi tree planting as a sacred object, especially when the image, the Buddha image has not been popular in India. In the Kalinga-Bodhi Sutta [6] and Kosiya [7] mentioned that: during the Buddha's lifetime, the Bodhi tree was highly respected and worshiped like the Buddha. Bodhi tree is considered one of the three sacred objects, along with the temple (cetiya) and the temple tower (patimaghara) that need to be worshiped. All three subjects are equally important. However, among these things, the relics of the Buddha are valued and respected more than anything.

After the Buddha's death, Emperor Asoka showed his devotion and respect to the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya. This Buddhist Emperor sent his daughter to be a princess (which later became Bhikkhu-ni Sanghamitta), extracting a southern branch of the Bodhi tree from Sri Lanka and planting it in the ancient city of Anuradhapura, throughout. during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa. This bodhi tree branch is still green to this day. While the original Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya was destroyed many times by many later eras. Therefore, the Bodhi tree declared in the history of the oldest tree in the world is the one planted in this city of Anuradhapura. [8]

According to the annals of Sri Lankan, Dipavamsa (of the fourth century), Mahavamsa (of the fifth century) and Samanta-Pasadika (of the fifth century), written in Pali and Sri Lankan languages, said: during King Devanamapyatissa Reigning in the 3rd century BC, the son of Ashoka, Bhikkhu Mahinda, went to preach in Sri Lanka and inspired the king and the people of this peaceful island. And he founded the first Buddhist Sangha here.

During Mahinda's time in Sri Lanka, he advised King Devanamapyatissa to propose to Ashoka a gift of a Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya to plant in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

The daughter of King Ashoka, Bhikkhu-ni Sanghamitta, visited Sri Lanka with the purpose of establishing Buddhist nuns for nuns and brought this Bodhi branch to Sri Lanka. Later people in Sri Lanka called this Bodhi tree in Sri Lanka "Sri-Maha-Bodhi," which means the sacred Bodhi tree (pictured above).

Talking about the data of the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya and in Sri Lanka, The Maha Bodhi newspaper, Buddha Gaya, July 1903 said:

"The Bodhi tree that Buddha Bhagawan used to meditate before now is no more. The tree was destroyed in 1874 (PL. 2418). A branch of this Bodhi tree has been given by Bhikkhu-ni Sanghamitta, son. Asoka king's daughter brought to plant in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, When the original tree was destroyed in 1874, a new branch of a young tree sprouted and it was a lush Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya today. The tree grows very well and is full of green leaves.

The painting depicts a Sanghamitta bhikkhuni carrying a Bodhi tree extracted from the Bodhi tree at Buddha land and planted in Sri Lanka

When Venerable Anagarika Dhammapala (founder of the Maha Bodhi Society in India and around the world) visited Bodh Gaya on 22nd, 1891, for the first time he was so happy and moved by the holy deities It relates to the life and enlightenment of the Buddha. But he was heartbroken to see the ruin of this holy place. He sat next to the Vajrasana building under the Bodhi tree and made a vow to restore the sites where Buddhism was born. The Venerable was one of the first great contributors to the restoration of Buddhism in Bodh Gaya in particular and Indian Buddhism in general during the time of the XIX-XX century. And also from the building foundation of the Venerable, the Maha Bodhi Association today has developed and is present in many countries around the world.

On 11/11/1931, Mulagandhakuti temple in Sarnath built by the Venerable was inaugurated. The Governor of India Willingdon and the Director of the Institute of Archeology agreed to bring the relics of Buddha to worship at this temple [9]. And three branches of Bodhi tree extracted from the Bodhi tree in the capital Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka were also brought back to grow at Mulagandhi Temple in Sarnath. These three Bodhi branches, like the three children of the same Bodhi mother in Sri Lanka, who are originally from Bodhi Bodhi Bodhi, have flourished in a protective wall. For more than 50 years now, the three Bodhi trees in the same cement building have grown like three branches of a tree, becoming a sacred place to worship and admire for the Buddhists.

Historical bodhi tree in Srilanka

Thus, from the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya in the time of the Buddha was extracted to plant at the gate of Jetavana monastery in Shravasti. Then around the third century BC, a southern branch of the Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya was grown in Sri Lanka. Then in the twentieth century, three branches of Bodhi in Sri Lanka were brought back to India and planted in Sarnath, Deer Park - where the Buddha turned the dharma to send the first message of suffering for the five Kieu brothers. Trần Như and all of us humans.

We can also find the first valuable notes on the Bodhi tree in this Bodh Gaya in the wake of the passing of the Buddha on the pilgrimage pilgrimages of Chinese worshipers.

Phap Hien visited Bodhgaya in 400 and during his pilgrimage, he described Bodh Gaya as follows:

"The disciple Sa-keeper went to the front, came under a pei-to tree, spread auspicious grass, facing east. He began to calm down and for seven days he enjoyed the state of bliss and liberation. It was here that a tower was built to mark the place where He had been walking for seven days from east to west while gods appeared with seven treasures of praise to the Buddha. a tower marked where the blind tortoise Mucchalinda had surrounded Buddha and covered his head with his head to shield his head from the storm. receive an offering ceremony of a Brahmin; there is also a tower marking the four heavenly kings offering him an alms bowl. There is also a tower marking 500 merchants offering him tortillas and honey ... "[10]

Or like Xuan Huyen Trang came to India in 629 and spent 16 years of worship and study here. In his memoirs, he told the following about Bodh Gaya:

"Going southwest from the top of Mount Pragbudhi about 14, 15 miles, we will reach the bodhi tree. This tree is surrounded by a large and solid brick wall. This wall is rectangular, long from east to west, short from north to south, its circumference is about 500 steps. The main gate opens in the east, facing the vast Nairanjana (river), and the inner wall of the sanctuary has many paths that cross each other in each direction. There are many towers and temples here, and many kings, princes and famous people in southern China (Jambudvipa) who have faith in the religion built many pagodas here to commemorate.

In the middle of the wall is the vajrasana building, where Buddha sat in meditation. In the olden times, when the life of the Sage karma came to its fullness, when the earth was created, this vajrasana building also appeared. It lies right in the center of the universe and goes deep into the Golden Wheel and goes deep into the earth. It is made up of diamonds. Circumference of about 100 steps, on this court there are 1000 Buddhas of the Sage of sitting and enter the vajra. So this court is called the Kim cang (Vajrasana). This is where Buddha attained enlightenment, so it is also called Bodh Gaya.

The Bodhi tree on the Vajrasana is the Tatpala, like the banyan tree (pippali). In the old days, when the Buddha was alive, the trees were several hundred feet tall. Because of being burned many times but it is still about 40, 50 feet high. The Buddha attained enlightenment below, so the tree is called the Three Bodhisattva tree (Samyak sambodhi, Bodhi druma). White yellow stems. Dark green leaves and branches. Leaves do not sag even in winter or summer, but they are still shiny and green throughout the year. But on the day the Buddha entered nirvana, the leaves here fell and fell, but miraculously! Soon thereafter, as lush as before. On holidays, pilgrims from many countries have gathered here, large to thousands of people. They competed in watering bass, fragrant fresh milk on the Bodhi tree, spreading fresh flowers and aromatic oils to make offerings. Flags, banners, lights,

Bodhi tree was first cut after the Buddha's death was due to King Ashoka. King Ashoka in the early days of his reign as a heathen and wishing to destroy the marks of the Buddha, summoned an army, he led the army here to destroy the Bodhi tree . He cut the tree to its roots, chopped the trunk, branches and branches into small pieces of wood and poured them west. Then he ordered a Brahmin to burn the woodpile to make offerings to Brahma. Not long after the bouts of smoke disappeared, it was strange, a Bodhi tree sprouted from the ashes with shimmering leaves like feathers, this tree was called "the Bodhi tree from the ashes". .

King Ashoka saw the miracle, and immediately regained his heart. You used aromatic milk to water the old tree to fertilize it and behold! The next morning the Bodhi tree grew as it was. The king, who witnessed this miracle, developed a strong faith, sent out the heart of offerings to the tree, and he felt so peaceful that he forgot to return to the palace. The queen, a Brahmin follower, had a man cut down trees at the beginning of the night. The next morning when the king came to worship the tree, only the root was cut so it was extremely painful. With all his sincerity, he prayed and watered the tree's base with scented milk. In less than a day, the Bodhi tree regained the same way. The king, touched by the miracle, built a wall 10 feet high around the tree. This wall is still visible today. Later, King Sasanka became a pagan and destroyed the Buddhism to come to cut the Bodhi tree, cut off any branches that appeared on the ground, but he could not cut the tree. He then burned the trees and poured sugarcane juice to destroy the roots of the trees.

A few months later, King Purnavarama (Ma Lau Na Batpa) of Ma-master-da, who was the last descendant of the Ashoka king, heard the news: "The sun of wisdom has set, no nothing left but the Bodhi root and even today it has been destroyed, where will provide spiritual life. " He wrestled himself to the ground in grief, then used the milk of a thousand cows to water the plant, overnight it was once again alive and growing more than ten feet tall. Fearing the trees would be harmed again, the king built a 24-foot wall around the tree. When Xuanzang came here, the wall was still 20 feet high.

There was a Pham who did not believe in Buddhism and only worshiped the god Ma He Thu La (Shiva). He heard rumors that Ma He Thu La would appear on the mountain of snow so he and his younger brother went there to pray. Emperor Thich appears, "Prayer needs to have a great merit. If you pray without merit as a basis, I cannot satisfy your prayers."

The Brahmin asked, "What merit work must I accomplish in order for him to satisfy my prayer?"

Emperor De Thich replied: "If you want to do great merit, you must find a good environment. The Bodhi tree is the place for attaining Buddhahood. You should immediately return there and build a large monastery next to your roots. Bodhi, make a great lake and make offerings to all things. Then you will surely achieve your wishes. "

After hearing these words, Pham Chi and his younger brother immediately returned to the Bodhi root. The older brother built a monastery, the younger brother digging a lake, after which they prepared prosperous offerings and with all their might emanated their wishes and vows at that time. The Pham Chi was made a great mandarin. He has since brought all his wealth to charity.

... Not far from the Bodhi Tree to the south is a 100-foot-tall tower erected by King Ashoka. After the Bodhisattva took a bath in the Nairanjana (river), he walked towards the Bodhi root. At that time, he thought, "What kind of seat do I have to make? I'll have to find something pure when it's morning." Then the heavenly Brahma turned into a mower walking along the road with a bunch of grass on its back. The Bodhisattva turned to him and said, "Can you give me a bundle of grass on your back?"

The lawnmower offered a bundle of grass with all respect. Bodhisattva after receiving the offerings immediately go to the Bodhi root "[13]

Thus, through the evidence cited above, we can know that in the historical journey to seek the truth, it was under the Bodhi tree on the Ni-Lien-river river, in the village of Uu-long-frequency- speaker, Prince Siddhartha enlightened and only showed that enlightened light to us all. This is a real existing event and is confirmed by history.

The famous Buddhist historian Taranath also noted that the invasion of Ma-master-man of the west, Hunimanta in the 1st century devastated the great tower, Canopied Walk was overthrown and of course the tree. divine Bodhi in the smoke of fire will not escape the gloomy fate. By the end of the seventh century, after the death of King Harsha Vardhana, the court fell into the hands of Brahmin Adittya Sena and his courtiers. During this time, Chinese worshipers have visited Bodhgaya Bodhisattva many times and all said that the Bodhi tree remained silent and persistent in the face of human winds and natural disasters. And until the next century, in 700-800, in the reign of the Pala Buddhist king's family, King Purna Vermma planted the Bodhi tree again, beginning the year of his reign around 813.

Along with the ups and downs of the Buddhist history, the Bodhi tree has been countless times burned and burned due to the wind of impermanent natural disasters, eroded and the hearts of the cruel people have tried to eradicate. its traces. But miraculously! Bodhi seeds still find ways to sprout buds. The revival begins in place of the seed of destruction and returns to green. This is evidenced by the Dr. event. Buchanan in 1811 visited Bodh Gaya and described in his book [14]: "The Bodhi tree is full of life and cannot be more than 100 years old. But there is one tree." likewise existed in the same place when the great tower had just finished construction. "

But in December 1862, Sir Alexander Cunningham, a famous English archaeologist who contributed greatly, if not primarily in the excavation of Buddhist monuments, not only in Bodh Gaya. Trang but also in other Buddhist holy places throughout India commented the following: "The Bodhi tree has fallen a lot, the trunk is slightly inclined to the west with three large branches still green but the branches others have been rotting gold "[15]

The second time in 1871 and the third time in 1875, he saw the tree again, now completely withered and decayed and in a short time in 1876 in a storm, the old Bodhi tree was swept away ( there is an image illustrating this stage of the Bodhi tree taken by Mr. Pappe) [16], only the trunk fell to the west of the wall. But fortunately, many of the seeds fell and the buds of their parents' trees sprouted back there.

Later in 1880, Sir Alexander Cunningham saw the background of the Vajrasana building exposed on the backyard of the great tower wall. This led him to think that there might be some trace of an old Bodhi tree, the original Bodhi tree, during the Buddha's lifetime. So Cunningham dug a short stretch to the west of the vajrasana. Under the scarlet-colored soil, the marble of the Vajrasana is revealed, the foot of the court is 3 feet high and 30 feet wide under the existing bodhi tree. He also discovered two long, long roots of an old Bodhi tree. One is 6.5 inches long [17] and the other is 4 inches long. A large pillar of 32 feet long, 30 feet high, 14 feet thick has stood behind the temple for more than 12 centuries. It seems unlikely that two parts of the bodhi tree were cut down by King Sansangka in 600-620.

According to Ashoka Avadana, the story of Tishya Rakshita, queen of the Ashoka king, cutting down trees is different, but the result of the tree being cut is the same. [18]

Cunningham also said that because the Bodhi tree is a fast-growing tree and has a short life, so there must be a continuation from the germinating seeds, from the time of King Ashoka to descend. To this day, perhaps go through about 12, 15 even up to 20 times for the continuation of the cycle of life and death ... and the Bodhi tree today probably belongs to the 20th great life. However, according to Information at a Glance: [19] "The current Bodhi tree may be the fifth generation of the original tree that was destroyed many times by natural disasters or man-made".

In the Burmese chronicles, King Pasenadhi (Prasenajit) built around the Bodhi tree a double wall and Dhamma-Ashoka built a third wall here. [20] If we accepted this account, Cunningham suggested that the twin walls of King Pasenadhi be made of pointed piles of wood that would rot during the two and a half centuries between the two dynasties. Cunningham concluded that it might have been squashed when King Ashoka built a great tower just to the east of the Bodhi tree.

Before our eyes today, the linden tree is really lush and full of dreamy green leaves all four seasons. New tree just over hundred years old. There is a square of cement wall underneath to hold the mound of stump and a large yellow cloth wrapped close to the bottom of the tree to make the tree look dignified. About two meters wide, there is another square wall surrounding the Bodhi tree and Kim Cang building. Pilgrims can go inside to admire this bodhi tree and the vajra building. Bodhi tree is revered and looked after very carefully. There is always an Indian monk at the Indian Buddhist temple (The MahaBodhi Mahavihar) or the Buddha Gaya Temple Management Committee, who is on hand to guide and arrange guests to worship at the tree ceremony, chanting, meditating ... Especially on holidays, this place is very crowded and busy. The beautiful fresh multicolored flowers, the clear glass of water,

"It is under this Bodhi tree that the Lord Tathagata overcame all Maou, in order to attain necessarily the position of enlightenment. Towards the Bodhi tree, I sincerely pay homage. The Blessed One - the Guru of heaven who respected this Bodhi tree, I would like to turn to this supreme Bodhi tree, pay homage! [21]

Today, Buddhism is flourishing in India, especially in Bodh Gaya, which has become the main center of world Buddhism. In the situation of good development, the Bodhi tree is also gradually transforming itself to radiate sacred vitality. Is it a period, a positive historical path, worth remembering about the Bodhi root in Bodh Gaya especially in the time of this XXI era? END=NAM MO SHAKYAMUNI BUDDHA.( 3 TIMES ).GOLDEN AMITABHA MONASTERY=VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=THICH CHAN TANH.AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.24/6/2020.VIETNAMESE TRANSLATE ENGLISH BY=VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=THICH CHAN TANH.