It is official now. A branch of the sacred bodhi tree at the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya was cut. This sensational disclosure was made on Thursday by Dehradun-based Forest Research Institute in its detailed report.
In the report submitted to the Bihar government, the institute said the branch of the sacred bodhi tree was cut three years ago.
"The report admitted that the branch was cut three years ago and not last year as alleged by a Buddhist monk in Bodh Gaya," Bihar Home Secretary Afzal Amanullah told
rediff.com on Thursday.
In June this year, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had ordered a test to be conducted by Forest Research Institute experts to determine whether the branch of the bodhi tree, under which Lord Buddha was believed to have attained enlightenment 2,550 years ago, was cut last year or not.
The order was given after a criminal case was filed by a monk Arup Brahmachari against the top officials of the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee, including Gaya District Magistrate, in the court of the chief judicial magistrate.
In July 2005, it was widely reported