The Cambodian Bodhi Tree -- New Leaves, and Old

New leaves are showing on the sacred Bodhi trees across Cambodia as they are on the more common, and decidedly unsacred mango. (At the same time many other trees are losing leaves, shedding seeds, or going dormant :).

Local lore says that at least some of the Bodhi trees originated in India. The trees in front of Wat Botum in Phnom Penh (near the National Assembly) are said to have grown from cuttings from ancient trees growing in Sri Lanka, which in turn were taken from cuttings from the "original" Buddha tree. The Wat was founded in 1422 by King Ponhea Yat (1405-1467), but got its current name in 1865.

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The connections between Sri Lankan and Cambodian Buddhism are real, long-standing, and strong to this day. But like the authenticity of Buddha's tooth which is said to reside inside the stupa (chedi) near the railway station, one simply does not know if the trees in Cambodia are really the descendents of that one original tree under which the Buddha achieved enlightenment.

Those are the stories, and Cambodia is full of them. One of the many things that makes living here so much fun, and so frustrating at the same time. But as far as verifiable facts go, here are two. :)

You can find carvings of Bodhi tree leaves at the Elephant Terrace inside the 12th Century Temple Angkor Thom (Siem Reap) so the trees have been in Cambodia a very long time. That is one fact. The second is that the trees continue to flourish across this nation, primarily on the temple grounds of its more than 4,500 temples.

Bodhi tree leave's have a distinctive heart-shape, and the newest leaves show a light red tint, as the picture above attests. The tree from on which those leaves hang and the temple grounds where it stands is shown below. Such quiet, calm spots, Cambodian temples! And always open to the public (daytime).