Bodhi is the term that is used by the Buddhists for denoting two distinct meanings. In the narrow sense, it is used to denote as ficus religiosa tree that the Buddha Siddhartha has attained for the enlightenment and in the broader sense, it is used for denoting any tree that Buddha uses for the enlightenment. The central symbolism in the Buddhism is the Bodhi tree. Under this tree, Buddha is found enlightenment. The Bodhi tree is found all around the world. Although, the descendants of fig tree are found still stand in its place. It is the tree, which plays most vital role in the spiritual as well as cultural life of Buddhists of Sri Lanka is the existence of Bodhi tree. The nurturing of the Bodhi tree is done by every Buddhists temple.

It was around 2,500 years ago, the price of Nepal, whose name was Siddhartha was born in the royal family. He has lived in the extreme privilege but he gave all his for the spiritualism. He dedicated himself for almost six years to the meditation, which is the practice of the training one’s mind for freeing themselves from all kind of everyday worries. Sometimes, he almost succumbed towards starvation. Even though, after all his efforts, he does not found peace. Moreover, at the age of 29, he set into the woods for finding the enlightenment, which is the state of the perfect knowledge, combined with the infinite compassion that ultimately becomes the central home of the religion that are founded by the followers that is Buddhism.

Siddhartha meditated for more than the month, beneath the fig tree in the Bodh Gaya in India. He stood after 49 days from the position of the meditation. He has given thanks to the tree for its shade as found the enlightenment. It was the time when he became the enlightened one or the Buddha. The fig tree on which the Buddha has taken shelter has took on the great significance and because of which there was the development of Buddhist religion. The tree has become the tree of enlightenment or the Bodhi tree just as Siddhartha has become the Buddha.

The Bodhi tree still stands in the Bodh Gaya, which is the descendant of one in which the Buddha sat. However, with the passing of the years, the temples of Buddhist that is all around the world have planted their own fig trees. These plantations of fig trees are based on the clippings similar to the original fig tree in which Buddha sat. Bodhi tree is the name given to the fig tree at Bodh Gaya, under which Buddha sat on the night when he has attained the enlightenment. This fig tree is having the botanical name of Ficus religiosa. The Bodhi tree has become the symbol of the presence of Buddha as well as the object for the worship. One of the oldest living tree is in the Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, which was the cut from the Bodhi tree of Buddha. The daughter of the king Ashoka, the nun Sanghamitta has brought the cutting of the fig tree, right before the destroying of the original fig tree by the king Sassanka in Buddhists early persecution. Every Bodhi tree use to represents the enlightenment journey, which Buddhist seeks as well as the tree is most often replicated in imagery. Today, the tree, which grows at the Bodh Gaya, was planted in the year 1881 by the British archaeologist that is after dying of the original fig tree, few years ago. The Bodhi tree was destroyed because of the war. However, it was reproduced with the cottage and then it was brought to the Sri Lanka. In the 1870 AD, the fig tree was planted again in Bodhgaya. The tree is giant again now, surrounds the temple of Mahabodhi.

Bodhi tree is originated from the tropical zone and it is planted widely in the zones of the subtropical as well. It has the strong force of life. It has the ability to grow to be huge tree and it allows the people for mediating under it. Bodhi means the awareness. Under this tree, Buddha becomes fully aware of the universal noble truth. In the Buddhism, the Buddha tree is known for its sacredness and clean tree as it helps in protecting the places.

It is believed generally that neither fruit nor the leaves fall on the ground, from this Bodhi tree. It is believed that the leaves of the Bodhi tree float in the air, until and unless it reaches the Tisa vaeva, which is located in the short-distance to south-west of the tree. Hence, it helps in preventing the human beings from stepping on these golden leaves. Moreover, it is also believed that the tree emanates the spectrum of six different colors. The body of Buddha has the power for emanating the rays of six colors that is Buddha Rashmi, which is namely red, white, yellow, orange as well as combination of all.

Bodhgaya is the location, where Buddha has achieved the enlightenment, which is now known today as Mahabodhi temple. It is believed that the goddess who guards the Bodhi tree is the one who has been supporting the Buddha. Generally, Buddhists pays higher respect to the Bodhi tree in memory of the Buddha. Even after thousands of the years, Bodhi trees are still believed to be alive and it is serves as the link between the Buddhists and the Buddha. Generally, a person believes that the Buddha trees dignifies the places as well as protects them from the evils. Just like the statues or the remains of the Buddha, Bodhi trees have become the way by which the Buddhists use for remembering the Buddha. It is not necessary that only the fig tree, under which Buddha sat for the enlightenment is valued rather any of Bodhi tree is valued in the same way. The reason for cultivating this belief is to maintain its historical value.