News: Ministry of Culture takes steps to halt auction of Piprahwa relics by Sotheby’s Hong Kong. Piprahwa Relics of Buddha.
About Piprahwa Relics of Buddha
- These are the Buddha’s relics which were excavated from the Piprahwa Stupa in present-day Uttar Pradesh — widely recognised as the ancient city of Kapilavastu, the birthplace of Lord Buddha.
- Relics include bone fragments, soapstone and crystal caskets, a sandstone coffer, and offerings such as gold ornaments and gemstones.
- The Relics were excavated by a British colonial engineer and an estate manager William Claxton Peppé in 1898.
- An inscription in Brahmi script on one of the caskets confirms these as relics of the Buddha, deposited by the Sakya clan.
Historical Background of Relics of Buddha
- At the age of 80, Buddha attained salvation in Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar
- The Mallas of Kushinagar cremated his body with ceremonies befitting a universal king.
- His relics from the funeral pyre were collected and divided into eight shares to be distributed among the Ajathsatrus of Magadha, the Licchavis of Vaishali, the Sakyas of Kapilavastu, Mallas of Kushinagar, Bullies of Allakappa, the Mallas of Pava, the Koliyas of Ramagrama and a Brahmana of Vethadipa.
- The purpose was erecting stupas over the sacred relics.
