Ancient jewels linked to Buddha’s remains have been returned to India following the postponement of a controversial auction in Hong Kong, India’s prime minister has said.
In May, Sotheby’s pushed back the auction of the jewels after India demanded a halt to the sale.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday called the return of the relics a “joyous day” in a post on X.
“It would make every Indian proud that the sacred Piprahwa relics of Bhagwan Buddha have come home after 127 long years,” he also said, using the Hindi term for Lord Buddha.
The Piprahwa relics, which consist of pearls, rubies, topaz, sapphires, and patterned gold sheets, date back to the Ashokan era of the Mauryan Empire, around 240-200 BC.
They were discovered by British estate manager William Claxton Peppé in 1898 in the present-day northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The jewels were identified by an inscription as belonging to the Buddha, who died around two centuries prior.
The relics represent one of India’s most important archaeological discoveries and hold great importance to Buddhists worldwide, according to a press release published by India’s Ministry of Culture on Wednesday.
“These sacred relics highlight India’s close association with Bhagwan Buddha and his noble teachings,” Modi added. “It also illustrates our commitment to preserving and protecting different aspects of our glorious culture.”
“Enshrined by His followers around the 3rd century BCE, these relics have long held immense spiritual value for the global Buddhist community,” the ministry said.
‘Historic outcome’
Sotheby’s told HKFP on Wednesday that the return of the relics was a “historic outcome,” after a two-month search for a suitable custodian for the gems.
“Today is the culmination of our close collaboration with the Peppé family, the Government of India and the newly-announced owners of the Gems – the Godrej Industries Group. Now concluded, this sale will see the permanent return of the Piprahwa Gems to India where they will be on public display for years to come,” said Sotheby’s in a written statement.
The ministry said a ceremony to formally unveil the relics is in the works.
“The sacred Piprahwa relics will be formally unveiled during a special ceremony and placed on public display, allowing citizens and global visitors to pay homage and witness these rare artefacts,” the ministry added.
