Dalai Lama will consecrate the sapling, which is a descendant u00a0of the Maha Bodhi tree, at Chaitya Bhoomi on February 19

This is no ordinary plant.

The sapling, which is around 2.5 feet high, is of religious and historic importance. It is the Maha Bodhi Vriksha, which arrived in Mumbai yesterday evening.


Congress MP Eknath Gaikwadu00a0and others carry the 2.5 feet high Maha Bodhi Vriksha, which was brought from Aurangabad at the airport yesterday

"The city's first Maha Bodhi Vriksha will be consecrated by the Dalai Lama at the Dadar Chaitya Bhoomi on February 19," said Manoj Singh, spokesman, Bihar foundation, Mumbai Chapter.

The young sapling has been brought from the Milind College at Aurangabad.

The college was founded by Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar also known as Babasaheb Ambedkar.
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"It is said that Ambedkar had visited Bodh Gaya and planted a seed, which was obtained from the Maha Bodhi tree there, at the Milind College in Aurangabad.

The seed from this tree has given birth to this young sapling which will now be planted in Mumbai," explained Singh.

The parent tree at the Milind College in Aurangabad was planted by Ambedkar himself somewhere in 1950s.
The tree, which arrived in Mumbai yesterday, has been kept at a Jain Temple in Dharavi.

"Our Buddhist brothers will take care of and worship the Bodhi Vriksha in the temple until February 19," said R S Shrivastav, chairman, Bihar Foundation, Mumbai Chapter.

It took almost a year for the Bihar Foundation to get the Maha Bodhi Vriksha to the city. "Obtaining a Maha Bodhi Vriksha is a difficult task. It is also of great significance in the history of Buddhism," said Shrivastav.

He continued, "A letter by Naseem Khan, state minister for minority affairs, Congress Member of Parliament Eknath Gaikwad was sent to the college, requesting the authorities to give us the sapling."

The People's Education Society, the parent organisation of the college promptly responded to the requests.
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"It is a good deed. The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of the Buddhists, will come and consecrate the tree in person, which is a wonderful thing," said MS More, chairman, People's Education Society.

The parent tree, which is more than 50 years old, as well as the young sapling were maintained and looked after well in the college.
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"In Mumbai we are still discussing with the government to decide on who should take care of the sapling after it is planted," added Shrivastav.

Chaitya Bhoomi has been chosen as the place where the sapling will be consecrated because the Bhoomi also has the samadhi of Babasaheb Ambedkar.

"The exact spot will be decided later," said Shrivastav. This may not be the lastu00a0 Maha Bodhi Vriksha in Mumbai.

"This will be the first one but we are also trying to get saplings from Sri Lanka, Uttar Pradesh as well as Hawaii in the US," he added.

The tree
The main Maha Bodhi Tree is at Bodh Gaya in Bihar. The Bodhi tree, also known as Bo, is the tree under which Gautama Buddha is said to have achieved nirvana. (enlightenment).