The Bodhi Tree
Bodhi trees can be found in Buddhist temples all over Thailand. Some of them are enormous and very beautiful with huge tree size branches shooting off horizontally. The oldest Bodhi tree in Thailand, the Prachin Bodhi at Prachin Buri is now 1100 years old.
The original Bodhi tree was the tree at Bodh Gaya under which the Buddha sat on the night he attained enlightenment. At that time it was already a large and very old and sacred tree. Afterwards it became a symbol of the Buddha’s presence and an object of worship. The nun Sanghamitta, took a cutting of the tree to Sri Lanka where it still grows in the island’s ancient capital of Anaradapura.
A type of fig (botanical name Ficus religiosa), the Bodhi tree is recognizable by its heart-shaped leaves. When looking at the tree, the leaves can be seen prominently displayed, hanging facing outwards with the tips downwards.
We have so many beautiful bodhi skeleton leaves on sale in our shop.