INDIA:CONCERN OVER the health of the giant Bodhi tree, under which Buddha attained enlightenment in eastern India more than 2,500 years ago, has spawned a secret plan to preserve it for posterity through cloning.
Officials said the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee, responsible for running the holy complex in Bihar state had tasked the federal Forest Research Institute or FRI at Dehradun, 300km east of Delhi, to execute a "virtual modelling" of the tree using existing cells through the process of DNA finger printing. The cloning would be undertaken in a laboratory and scientists believe they can preserve the giant pepul or ficus religiosa "Bodhi tree" that along with the adjoining Mahabodhi temple has been declared a Unesco world heritage site.
Located behind the Mahabodhi shrine, the 111-year old tree is the sixth generation of the one under which Buddha received the ultimate truth after 49 days of continuous meditation.
The tree is sacrosanct to millions of Buddhists who visit it on pilgrimage from around the world and buy its leaves for up to $10 (€6.37) each. FRI scientists have also been asked to monitor the health of the tree every six months. Many Buddhists believe the holy tree's demise augurs ill for mankind and are anxious to ensure its longevity in perpetuity.
Some years ago, the tree was afflicted with mealy bug, a sap-sucking insect but a timely course of pesticides managed to cure it, ensuing for it a lifespan of some 50-odd years.
Last year the tree once more posed a worrying problem after it began shedding an inordinate amount of leaves, triggering fears that it may be dying. However, scientists persuaded the temple authorities to dissuade pilgrims from lighting candles under the tree as they coated its leaves with carbon that impeded photosynthesis and hampered growth. A separate "lamp room" was established a safe distance away for this purpose and the custom of offering sweets to the tree, which in turn attracted harmful insects was also stopped.
Buddha who was originally Siddartha Gutama, a 5th century BC prince in what is now Nepal, renounced his privileged existence after witnessing the suffering of his people. He left his palace and family and became an ascetic
At the age of 35, the handsome monk began meditating under a pepul tree vowing not to rise until he found the ultimate truth. Thereafter he was known as the Buddha or the Awakened One.