Is the Original Bodhi Tree Still Alive? The Truth Behind Buddhism's Most Sacred Tree

A Short Answer: No, But Its Legacy Lives On

The original Bodhi Tree — the sacred fig under which Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment over 2,500 years ago in Bodh Gaya, India — is no longer standing. However, the tree that grows at the Mahabodhi Temple today is widely believed to be a direct descendant of that original tree, making its story one of remarkable continuity rather than complete loss.

What Happened to the Original Tree?

Bodhi Tree

According to tradition, the original Bodhi Tree survived for centuries but faced repeated destruction from both natural causes and human intervention. One popular legend claims that Emperor Ashoka's queen, jealous of his devotion to the tree, ordered it destroyed. Historical accounts also point to storms, floods, and deliberate felling by rulers hostile to Buddhism as contributing factors over the centuries.

Despite these setbacks, the tree's lineage was preserved through an important act of foresight.

The Sri Lanka Connection

In the 3rd century BCE, Emperor Ashoka's daughter, the Buddhist nun Sanghamitta, carried a sapling from the original Bodhi Tree to Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka. That tree, known as the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, is still alive today and is often cited as the oldest continuously documented tree in the world, with a verified planting date.

This Sri Lankan tree became critical to preserving the Bodhi Tree's genetic lineage. When the original tree in India was later destroyed, a sapling grown from the Anuradhapura tree was brought back and replanted at Bodh Gaya, restoring the sacred lineage to its birthplace.

The Tree You See Today

The current tree standing at the Mahabodhi Temple Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is believed to be the fifth in a succession of trees grown on that exact spot. It was planted in 1881 by British archaeologist Alexander Cunningham, using a sapling descended from the Sri Lankan tree. Estimates suggest it stands around 80 feet tall.

This "Mahabodhi Tree" continues to draw roughly two million pilgrims each year, and it hasn't survived without careful intervention. Forest pathologists have periodically nursed it back to health during periods of drought and disease, ensuring its survival for future generations.

Descendants Around the World

Beyond Bodh Gaya and Anuradhapura, dozens of Bodhi tree descendants have been planted at Buddhist sites worldwide, grown from seeds and cuttings carried by pilgrims and monks over the centuries. At least a dozen trees with verifiable, documented connections to the original exist today, making the Bodhi Tree's genetic line one of the most widely propagated sacred trees in history.

Why This Matters to Buddhists

For practitioners, the biological continuity of the tree matters less than its symbolic power. The Bodhi Tree represents awakening, resilience, and the possibility of enlightenment — themes that remain intact whether one stands beneath the original trunk or one of its many descendants. Every year on Bodhi Day, Buddhists around the world honor this legacy, reflecting on the tree not just as a plant, but as a living reminder of the Buddha's path to liberation.

The Bottom Line

While the exact tree that sheltered the Buddha during his enlightenment is gone, its story didn't end there. Through careful cultivation and an unbroken chain of cuttings stretching back over two millennia, the spirit — and genetic lineage — of the original Bodhi Tree continues to grow in Bodh Gaya and beyond.