The Story of the Bodhi Tree

What “Bodhi” Means

The word Bodhi comes from Sanskrit and means:

• enlightenment

• awakening

• the state of true wisdom

The Bodhi Tree is named after the tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment.

The Buddha’s Enlightenment Story

Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) practiced severe asceticism for many years. Realizing that extreme practices could not bring true liberation, he chose the Middle Way.

He purified himself in the Nerañjara River and sat beneath a sacred fig tree in Bodh Gaya, India. He made a vow:

“I will not rise from this seat until I attain enlightenment.”

During meditation, Māra (the tempter) tried to distract him with fear, illusions, and doubts. The Buddha touched the earth and said:

“Let the earth be my witness.”

The earth responded, Māra retreated, and after 49 days of meditation, Siddhartha attained complete enlightenment.

This tree became known as the Bodhi Tree.

What Kind of Tree Is It?

The Bodhi Tree is:

Ficus religiosa
(sacred fig / peepal tree)

Features:

• heart-shaped leaves

• long, thin leaf tips

• regarded as sacred across South Asia

The Bodhi Tree’s Historical Legacy

The original tree has been damaged several times in history, but branches were preserved and replanted.

One famous descendant is the Sri Maha Bodhi Tree in Sri Lanka, planted around 288 BCE. It is over 2,300 years old and considered one of the oldest human-planted trees in the world.

Many temples across Asia now have Bodhi Trees grown from its branches.

Symbolism in Buddhist Culture

As Buddhism spread, “Bodhi” became a symbol of:

• wisdom

• compassion

• awakening

• inner clarity

The famous line by the Sixth Patriarch Huineng expresses this idea:

“There is no Bodhi tree,
nor a stand for a mirror bright.”

This means enlightenment comes from within, not from an external object.

Why Many Prayer Beads Are Called “Bodhi”

Modern “Bodhi beads” such as Star and Moon Bodhi or Vajra Bodhi are not from the Bodhi Tree itself.
The name is used because “Bodhi” symbolizes:

• good fortune

• mindfulness

• spiritual growth

• inner peace

This is why Bodhi-themed bracelets and beads are popular worldwide.

Conclusion

The Bodhi Tree is meaningful not because of the tree itself, but because it witnessed the Buddha’s awakening. Today it stands as a symbol of:

• enlightenment

• peace

• wisdom

• spiritual continuity

It reminds us that true awakening begins within our own mind.