The Sri Maha Bodhi Tree (Ficus religiosa) in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, shown on the right is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date. The sacred tree, a descendent of the historical tree under which Shakyamuni Buddha sat to become enlightened in Bodhgaya, India, was brought to Sri Lanka in 288 BCE by the Ven. Sangamitta, the sister of Ven. Arahath Mahinda. The two venerables were the daughter and son of the Emperor Asoka who sent them as missionaries to the island. It has been tended by an uninterrupted succession of guardians for 2,300 years, even during the periods of foreign occupation and the many civil wars. Sri Lankan Heads of State have sought the blessings of the Sri Maha Bodhi before commencing any important work. It is a very important site of pilgrimage for the devout.
This descendent of the Maha Bodhi Tree in Sri Lanka shown left was installed as a Bodhighara (Bodhi Tree Shrine) in the Holy Vajra Pole Court at the Holy Vajrasana Temple in Sanger, California on May 11, 2014 along with a water source for making offerings. Many visitors have come to see and pay their respects to this holy tree. A beautiful Buddha Light appeared around the sun when one group of pilgrims arrived as shown in the video above. The video also captures visitors from other realms who come and dance at the bodhighara. The spirits shown in that photo could actually be seen with the naked eye while the photo was being taken.