A Buddhist monk in the northern India state of Bihar, where legend has it the Buddha attained enlightenment, is taking local government and religious officials to task for supposedly cutting off a branch of the famed Bodhi tree. According to Buddhist history, the Awakened One meditated beneath this tree (or, as the story explains, one of its progenitors) for three days and three nights before he achieved insights into the meaning of human existence.

Since impermanence and the unhappiness that comes with grasping plays such a large role in Buddhist thought, many Buddhists are loath to attach too much importance to physical things-even holy things. Still, this tree is considered sacred and millions of pilgrims have gathered under its shade since 6 BCE.