It is a very important and historic day for Sri Lanka, as it was on this Poya day that Princess Sangamitta Theri arrived in Dambakolapatuna port in Jaffna with a right branch of the Sri Maha Bodhi in India accompanied by a retinue of several others who joined her in this voyage. This voyage laid the foundation for a unitary Sri Lanka and brought all the Sinhalese together. It was a day of special
significance to the ruling monarch king Devanampiyatissa too, for he received a special gift on this day from his unseen but life-long friend king Dharmashoka of India. Sangamitta Theri was the sister of Rev. Mahinda Maha Thera who brought the teachings of the Buddha - the Dhamma to Sri Lanka. They were the two children of king Dharmashoka born to queen Videesa' a "Murunda" clan wife of the king who lived in a place close to Sanchi. After one "vas" season Devanampiyatissa ordered his nephew's chief minister Aritta to go to India to meet king Dharmashoka and bring to Sri Lanka the Bo-sapling. Minister Aritta agreed to undertake his voyage provided he was permitted to enter the order on his return. Accordingly the minister set sail to Dambakolapatuna sea port and returned to Sri Lanka with the Bo-sapling accompanied by Sangamitta Theri and the retinue. By now queen Anula and another five hundred would be nuns were waiting to be ordained by Sangamitta Maha Theri. Sangamitta Maha Theri was able to ordain her husband prince Aggi Brahma and son prince Sumana before she left India on this Royal diplomatic assignment. Lord Gautama Buddha is considered as the Greatest Human Being appeared on earth. The esteemed one achieved the eternal bliss of Samma Sambodhi or the Enlightenment, ending the continuous circle of Samsara, the existence. This wonderful event took place 2600 years ago seated with his back against under an Esathu tree by the river Neranjana in the Buddhagaya, India. As the ascetic Siddhartha attained the Sambodhi Gnana under the shade of the Esathu tree, this highly venerated tree came to be known as the 'Bodhi'.
