Buddhadarshan News, New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid a visit to Sri Lanka’s ancient capital Anuradhapura and offered prayers at the sacred Mahabodhi tree in a move aimed at projecting India’s Buddhist links in the region. Narendra Modi spent about 30 minutes at the Mahabodhi tree temple in Lanka’s north central holy town and perform rituals.
Legend has it that the southern branch of the holy Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya in India under which Buddha was said to have attained enlightenment was brought to Sri Lanka in 288 BC by Princess Sanghamitta (Sanghamitra in Sanskrit), the daughter of Emperor Ashoka.
It was planted in Anuradhapura and is venerated to this day by the Buddhists from many countries of the world. Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a sacred Fig tree and is the oldest living tree in documented history of the world.
