Bodhi tree cut shocks Gaya, DM says it146;s an old scar

The Buddhist heritage town of Bodh Gaya was in for a shock on Thursday when some locals discovered that a branch of the sacred Bodhi Tree on the premises of the Maha Bodhi Temple had been chopped off.

The Buddhist heritage town of Bodh Gaya was in for a shock on Thursday when some locals discovered that a branch of the sacred Bodhi Tree on the premises of the Maha Bodhi Temple had been chopped off.

The Maha Bodhi Temple is a world heritage site and one of the most sacred destinations for Buddhists around the world. The Bodhi Tree is believed to be the sixth generation of the peepal Ficus religiosa tree under which Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment some 2,500 years ago.

Photographs taken today showed that a branch of around 10-inch diametre has been neatly chopped off. The cut appeared to be fresh and not an old one as claimed by the authorities.

Taking a serious note, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar immediately directed the Home Commissioner and Director

General of Police to personally inquire the matter. A high-level team of experts is also being flown in to verify the allegations.

Gaya District Magistrate Jettendra Srivastava, who is the ex-officio chairman of The Mahabodhi Temple Management Committee, however strongly denied any damage to the tree. He argued that the stump shown by the media is also present in a photograph taken in 2004.

Told that the cut looks fresh, the DM said: 8216;8216;It looks fresh since the tree is treated every year to keep it fresh. In the 2004 photograph too the cut appears fresh.8217;8217; He said the photo taken in 2004 will be released on Friday. He said a team of experts were being flown in to verify the time of the damage.

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Meanwhile, local shopkeepers, refusing to be named, said over phone that the temple committee was initially shocked at the news. Later, however, the authorities denied any damage to the sacred tree.

8216;8216;The news is baseless. The scar is some 30 years old. No damage to the tree has taken place in the recent past,8217;8217; pointed out chief priest Bhikshu Bodhipala. The temple is at present being renovated by the Archaeological Survey of India.