The ailing Bodhi tree arouses Buddhist fears

Concerns are mounting in India for the well-being of a sacred tree under which Lord Buddha first attained enlightenment more than 2,500 years ago.

The "Bodhi tree" in Bihar state, eastern India, has been afflicted with a mystery ailment, causing it to shed its leaves.

The giant peepal, or ficus religiosa, situated outside the Mahabodhi shrine is sacred to Buddhists who make pilgrimages from all around the world to worship at it.



Scientists have been called in to examine the tree, which began dropping large quantities of fresh leaves late last month, raising fears that it was starting to die.

The fate of the tree - which is 110 years old and is, according to the temple authorities, the sixth regeneration of the original tree under which Lord Buddha attained perfect insight - is a highly sensitive subject in the Buddhist world.

Last year rumours that a local mafia gang had lopped off a branch to sell to Japanese pilgrims caused several countries, including Sri Lanka, Burma and Japan to send high-level diplomatic delegations to inspect the place where the limb had allegedly been severed.