King Asoka and Buddhism - Urban Dharma

order. 55 Their son Sumana was a member of the Sri Lankanmission. Mahinda is also said to be a child of the same Aśoka-Devī union, though Asandhimittā was the legitimate chiefqueen of Aśoka.Ariṭṭha, the nephew of Tissa, was summoned by the kingto be sent a second time to Pāṭaliputta to fetch Saṅghamittāand also a branch of the Bodhi Tree under which the Buddhaattained Enlightenment. 56 Ariṭṭha and his companions embarkedat Jambukola as before, arrived at Pāṭaliputta in duecourse, and delivered Tissa’s message to Aśoka. The UniversityHistory of Ceylon describes this incident in the followingmanner:The Indian monarch, though loathe to send his daughter to sodistant a place, agreed to the request for the sake of propagationof the Dhamma that was so dear to his heart. He also madepreparations to obtain the branch of the Bodhi Tree. Aśoka’svisit to Bodh Gaya for this purpose, the severance of the branchfrom the sacred stem, the transportation of the sacred objectbefittingly placed in a vase to the capital and then to the seaportwere all accompanied by brilliant pageantry and manifestationsof unbounded religious fervour. Different clans of artisansto perform the various services necessary for the BodhiTree also accompanied the sacred object. The Therī Saṅghamittāentrusted with the care of the sacred object and other nuns embarkedat Tāmralipti and with Ariṭṭha and his companions inattendance, performed the voyage back to Sri Lanka.Entering the city through the north gate, the Bodhi branchwas taken through the south gate to the spot selected for itsinstallation. In the presence of Mahinda Thera, Kshatriyas ofCandanagama and Kajaragama and Brahmana Tavakka, theBodhi branch was finally planted on the terrace prepared forit. The presence on this occasion of the ruling princes of outlyingdistricts and the Brahmana at the invitation no doubt of133