Ajapala Nigrodha Tree

The Ajapala Nigrodha Tree is a banyan tree that is of great importance in Buddhist literature. According to Buddhist texts, the tree was located in Uruvelā, on the banks of the Nerañjara, near the Bodhi tree. It is said that after attaining enlightenment, the Buddha spent a week cross-legged at the foot of the tree, where he met with the Huhunkajātika Brahmin. This meeting is recorded in the Vinaya Pitaka, the earliest texts of the Buddhist canon.

Two weeks later, the Buddha returned to the Ajapala Nigrodha Tree from the Rajāyatana. It was during this visit that Brahma Sahampati, a god-like figure in Buddhism, appeared to the Buddha and urged him to teach the doctrine to others, despite the difficulty of the task. This event is recorded in the Vinaya Pitaka and also in the commentaries of Buddhaghosa. It is said that this event occurred in the eighth week after the Buddha's enlightenment.

The Ajapala Nigrodha Tree is also significant for other events that are said to have occurred there. After his enlightenment, Mara, the personification of evil in Buddhism, tried to convince the Buddha to die immediately, but the Buddha refused. These events are recorded in the Digha Nikaya and the Samyutta Nikaya. Before his enlightenment, the Buddha is said to have spent some time at the tree and it was here that Sujata, a young woman, offered him a meal of milk-rice, an act that is said to have played a key role in his enlightenment.

The tree is also said to have been the location of other significant events in the Buddha's life. In the fifth week after his enlightenment, Mara's daughters are said to have tried to tempt the Buddha. These events are recorded in the Jatakas. The tree is also said to be the location where the Buddha held a discourse to address the queries of locals about religion, humanity, and equality.

There are several etymologies suggested for the name of the Ajapala Nigrodha Tree. One theory is that it is named for the goatherds who rested in its shadow. Another theory is that it was named for the old brahmins who lived in dwellings protected by walls and ramparts. A third theory is that it was named for the goats that sought its shade at midday.

The northern Buddhists say that the tree was planted by a shepherd boy, during the Bodhisattva's six years' penance, to shelter him. It is also believed that several old brahmins, advanced in years, visited the Buddha during this period and questioned him as to whether it were true that he did not pay respect to age. To them, he preached the four Thera-karanā dhamma.

Once considered a heritage tree, Ajapala Nigrodha Tree, no longer exists, but the sacred location where Gautam Buddha completed his fifth week of meditation after attaining enlightenment and held a discourse to address and answer the queries locals had about religion, humanity and equality is still being considered religiously important and is visited by believers. The place is now marked with a pillar, to commemorate the significance of the tree and the events that are said to have occurred there.

Ajapala Nigrodha Tree and its Significance in the Mahabodhi Complex

The Mahabodhi Complex, located in Bodh Gaya, India, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that holds immense historical and religious significance. Among the various sacred elements within this complex, the Ajapala Nigrodha Tree stands as a silent witness to the profound events that took place here. In this article, we will delve into the history and significance of the Ajapala Nigrodha Tree, as well as explore the broader context of the Mahabodhi Complex and its seven sacred sites.

The Seven Sacred Sites:

1. Bodhi Tree:

The central and most revered site within the Mahabodhi Complex is the Bodhi Tree. It is believed to be the descendant of the original tree under which Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment, becoming the Buddha.

Pilgrims and visitors gather around the Bodhi Tree to meditate, offer prayers, and reflect on the Buddha's teachings. The tree symbolizes the profound transformation and enlightenment experienced by the Buddha.

2. Rajayatana:

Rajayatana is the site where the Buddha spent the seventh week after enlightenment, meditating under the Rajyatana tree.

Pilgrims believe that this site is where the Buddha contemplated the Abhidhamma, the highest teachings of Buddhism. The Rajayatana tree holds historical and spiritual importance as a place of deep meditation and reflection.

3. Muchalinda:

Muchalinda Sarovar is a pond within the Mahabodhi Complex where the Buddha spent the sixth week after enlightenment.

Legend has it that the snake king Muchalinda protected the Buddha from a severe storm by spreading his hood over him. Pilgrims often visit this site to reflect on the themes of protection and serenity associated with Muchalinda's act of shielding the Buddha.

4. Ajapala Nigrodha:

The Ajapala Nigrodha Tree is a sacred tree within the Mahabodhi Complex, believed to be the spot where the Buddha spent the fourth week after enlightenment.

Pilgrims regard this tree as a symbol of the Buddha's unwavering determination and focus during the fourth week of his post-enlightenment meditation. Devotees gather around the Ajapala Nigrodha Tree to seek inspiration and spiritual insight.

5. Chankramana:

Chankramana is the sacred path within the Mahabodhi Complex where the Buddha walked for two weeks after attaining enlightenment.

Pilgrims circumambulate this path, believing that it purifies the mind and soul. Chankramana symbolizes the Buddha's mindful footsteps and his continuous journey towards spreading enlightenment and compassion.

6. Ratanaghara:

Ratanaghara is the location where the Buddha spent the third week after enlightenment in deep meditation.

Pilgrims visit Ratanaghara to meditate and reflect on the Buddha's teachings. The site symbolizes the Buddha's introspective period, emphasizing the importance of contemplation on the path to enlightenment.

7. Animesh Lochan Chaitya:

Animesh Lochan Chaitya is the spot where the Buddha spent one week standing and gazing at the Bodhi Tree after attaining enlightenment.

Pilgrims believe that the Buddha's unblinking gaze during this week attracted the attention of the deity Brahma, who descended from heaven to offer a golden robe. The site represents a moment of deep gratitude and acknowledgment of the Buddha's enlightenment.

You can read my story of Ajapala here:  https://www.ajapala.com/2022/12/ajapala-story.html