It still flourishes today and is the oldest continually documented tree in the world. In 600AD, King Sesanka, a zealous Shivaite, again destroyed the tree at Bodh Gaya. At this time, during the annual celebration of Vesak, thousands of people from all over India would gather to anoint the roots of the holy tree with perfumed water and scented milk, and to offer flowers and music. It has pointed leaves of a bright green colour. Having opened a door, one could see a large trench in the shape of a basin.
Devotees worship with curd, milk and perfumes such as sandalwood, camphor and so on.
I next saw the tree in 1871 and again in 1875, when it had become completely decayed, and shortly afterwards in 1876 the only remaining portion of the tree fell over the west wall during a storm, and the old pipal tree was gone. Many seeds, however, had been collected and the young scion of the parent tree were already in existence to take its place. The present Bodhi tree is most probably the fourth descendant of that original tree to be planted at this site. The bodhi tree plays a very important role for Buddhists of all traditions, being a reminder and an inspiration, a symbol of peace, of Buddhas' enlightenment and of the ultimate potential that lies within us all. The little leaf links to a bit more information and a few craft suggestions.