印度孔雀王朝阿育王，為了紀念兒女──摩哂陀、僧伽蜜多的誕生，而在出生地建立了桑奇佛塔。後來摩哂陀、僧伽蜜多出家，又至錫蘭弘揚佛法，開啟正信佛教，對錫蘭佛教影響頗鉅。僧伽蜜多在錫蘭，度化天愛帝須國王的夫人阿耨羅與五百侍女，而建立錫蘭第一個比丘尼僧團，這在佛教史是重要的盛事。 昔日釋迦牟尼佛，曾於菩提伽耶的菩提樹下成道，在早期印度佛教，主張不塑造佛像，故此棵菩提樹被視為佛的象徵之一。僧伽蜜多當年遠赴錫蘭時，曾將此菩提樹的分枝捧入錫蘭，並種植於首都阿耨羅城城南外的眉伽園。後印度菩提伽耶的本樹遭異教徒摧毀，於是又從錫蘭移枝回菩提伽耶道場，即現今的菩提樹。因此，後代將僧伽蜜多的塑像，多半呈現比丘尼手捧菩提樹的造型，僧伽蜜多與菩提樹，對於印度佛教與錫蘭佛教有深妙的意義。 本文從僧伽蜜多相關議題，探析其一生弘化，利益許多眾生，對錫蘭佛教、印度佛教，乃至中國佛教，皆有影響。僧伽蜜多的的內修外弘，是一種真實生命的實踐，也為後世的教育典範。

In ancient India, emperor Ashoka built a Stupa in Sanchi to memorize his son and daughter. Later, Sanghamittaand her brother Mahindawere ordain becoming Buddhist nun and monk and went to Ceylon to preach Buddhist doctrine. Both of them influenced Buddhism in Ceylon deeply. Sanghamittaestablished the first nun monastery; it was a very important milestone i Lord Buddhaattained enlightenment under Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya. In the early time there was no imageof Buddha, this Bodhi tree was the symbol of Buddha. When Sanghamittawent to Ceylon, she took the branch of this Bodhi tree with her and planted it in the capital Anuradhapura. After the Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya was destroyed by Muslim in the 13th century, Buddhist grouptook the branch of this Bodhi tree in Ceylon back to Bodhgaya, and this was the Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya nowadays. Today, Sanghamitta hold the small Bodhi tree is the most . Sanghamitta and the Bodhi tree have a profound meaning to Buddhism and Ceylon.