Bodhi leaf

What does it mean?

Siddhartha gained enlightenment while meditating under a pipal tree (Ficus religiosa) at Gaya, so the tree became the Bodhi, or wisdom, tree. In the reliefs of Bharhut (2nd century BC) and Sanchi (1st century BC) the Buddha is not shown in human form; he is represented by symbols such as the Bodhi tree, the empty throne beneath it and the stupa. Sculptors always drew the tree recognisably by the characteristic shape of its leaves. Pipal leaves appear even on a seal from Mohenjo-daro ^[1].

Same theme

Sources

1. R. V. Sitholey, “Plants represented in ancient Indian sculpture”, Geophytology 6(1), 1976