Friday, February 12, 2016

Sri Lanka - Part 5 - Sri Maha Bodhi Tree

Perhaps the most important Buddhist site in Sri Lanka is the tree brought to Sri Lanka when Buddhism was first introduced to the island. Legend has it that Indian Emperor Ashoka's daughter brought a cutting of the original Bodhi Tree when visiting her brother, Mahinda, in Sri Lanka. Over 2000 years later, the tree is still alive in the Mahavihara complex.

The tree itself is rather spindly and unwieldy. The branches are supported by scaffolding and gold-plated supports.
A few of the floral offerings to the Sri Maha Bodhi Tree.
Temple musicians.
An interesting stone wall that forms part of the enclosure of the Bodhi tree shrine.

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