Adjacent to the Mulagandha Kuti Vihar, Sarnath’s Bodhi tree is an offshoot of the tree at Bodhgaya in Bihar, under which Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. A placard at the site states— “Bhikkuni Sanghamitra, Emperor Ashoka’s daughter, took a branch from the original tree in 288 BC and planted it in Anuradhapura, in Sri Lanka, where its offshoots have been nurtured through the ages.”
A sapling was brought to the deer park and this tree was planted here in 1931 by the respected Dharmapala, founder of the Mahabodhi society. Images of Sakyamuni Buddha preaching his first sermon to the five disciples were erected in 1989. It is said to be the oldest religious tree in the world. It is also known as the holy Bodhi Vriksha and is one of the holiest places for Buddhists as Lord Buddha had attained his enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.
Prayer flags line the area, entrance to the Bodhi Tree complex is a fascinating design donated by a Myanmar family. There is a huge bell with inscriptions and large display plaques with the Buddha’s discourse in various languages such as Pali, English, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, Hindi, Japanese, Burmese, Cambodian, Mongolian, Tibetan and Korean. Prayer wheels line the Bodhi Tree and pilgrims rotate them for good karma.