The original name of Bodhi tree

Since I am the plant lover (inherit from my mother), my house is surrounded with the numerous plants. Some of them are intentional cultivate, but some of them are suddenly appearing out of nowhere. The Bodhi tree (or the sacred fig) is one of the latter, it suddenly appear in my Jan-par pot. I guess its seed might come from the bird’s poopoo.

Bodhi tree, in Jan-par pot, in my yard

The Bodhi tree has the scientific name as Ficus religiosa. Its name describe clearly that this plant is a fig (Figus) that has a religious important (religiosa). Its fruit is traditionally used as antidiarrheal and food digestant.

In Buddhism, This plant is one of the important plants. It was described in the Tripitaka that Prince Siddhārtha, the current Buddha, was awakening under the Bodhi tree. Nowaday, Bodhi tree is respected as one of the symbol of the Buddha.

However, the truth is the name “Bodhi” is not the name represent the one species of plant. In fact, Bodhi (means “wisdom” or “enlighten”) is the name that given to every single tree that every Buddha are awakening or enlightening. For example, in the era of the Metteya the next Buddha, he will awakening under the tree which is now believe that is the Alexandrian Laurel (Calophylum inophyllum), so in that era this plant will honored as Bodhi tree.

So, what is the original name of the current “Bodhi tree” before Prince Siddhārtha was awakening?

From the Tripitaka, it informed that “Gautama Buddha (the current Buddha), after six years of extreme asceticism,  was discovering the Middle Way and  awakening at Assattha tree near Neranjana river”. This Assattha tree had another name called Pipal tree. So the Bodhi tree in this era is originally called Pipal tree or Assattha tree.

So what about the “Pipal tree” in my house? I guess I have to get rid of it in one day before it grow too much to handle.