Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c6.9

c6.9

The sacred Bō-tree planted at Anurādhapura Anurādhapura, where it still flourishes as the oldest historical tree in the world, commemorating the noble life and teaching of Gotama Buddha, who attained enlightenment beneath the parent tree. The religious enthusiasm of the royal adherents of the new faith, led to the erection at successive periods of the great series of buildings whose remains still cover many square miles of town and forest land. The oldest of these are found at Mihintalē, where a great stūpa was erected over Mahinda’s ashes.