‘Bo Tree Leaf’ Earrings – Buddhist Earrings

It was in the shade of the bo, or bodhi tree, that Buddha achieved enlightenment. The Bodhi Tree, also known as Bo (from the Sinhalese Bo), was a large and very old Sacred Fig tree, located in Bodh Gaya (about 100 km/62 mi from Patna in the Indian state of Bihar) under which Siddhartha Gautama, the spiritual teacher and founder of Buddhism later known as Gautama Buddha, achieved enlightenment, or Bodhi. In religious iconography, the Bodhi tree is easily recognizable from its heart-shaped leaves, which are usually prominently displayed. It is of the species sacred fig (ficus religiosa).

The term “Bodhi tree” is also widely applied to currently existing trees, particularly the Sacred Fig growing at the Mahabodhi Temple, which is probably a direct descendant of the original specimen. This tree is a frequent destination for pilgrims, being the most important of the four holy sites for Buddhists. Other holy Bodhi trees which have a great significance in the history of Buddhism are the Anandabodhi tree in Sravasti and the Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura. Both are believed to have been propagated from the original Bodhi tree.

Known in Thailand as pipal leaves.