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PCS ParikshanUttar Pradesh Switch to Hindi
Piprahwa Relics
Why in News?
The Central Government has launched a strong diplomatic and legal campaign to stop Sotheby’s in Hong Kong from auctioning the sacred Piprahwa Relics, which are believed to be the remains of Lord Buddha.
Key Points
- About Piprahwa Relics:
- Excavators discovered the Piprahwa Relics in 1898 at the Piprahwa Stupa in Uttar Pradesh, believed to be ancient Kapilavastu, the birthplace of Lord Buddha.
- The relics include bone fragments, crystal caskets, gold ornaments, and other ritual offerings.
- An inscription in Brahmi script on one casket links the relics directly to Lord Buddha, stating they were deposited by the Sakya clan.
- Legal Protection of the Relics:
- India classifies the relics as ‘AA’ antiquities, granting them the highest level of legal protection under national law.
- Indian law prohibits their sale or export, making any attempt to auction or remove them illegal.
- While most relics were handed to the Indian Museum, Kolkata in 1899, descendants of British excavator William Claxton Peppé retained some relics, now surfacing in the auction market.
- India’s Immediate Action:
- After learning of the proposed Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong, the Ministry of Culture issued a legal notice demanding an immediate halt.
- The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) contacted India’s Consulate General in Hong Kong to seek intervention.
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Kapilavastu Relics:
- The discovery of an inscribed casket in 1898 at the stupa site in Piprahwa (near UP’s Siddharthnagar) helped identify the place with the ancient Kapilavastu.
- The inscription on the casket's lid refers to the relics of Buddha and his community, the Sakya.
- A further excavation of the stupa by the Archaeological Survey of India in 1971-77 brought to light two more steatite relic caskets, containing a total of 22 sacred bone relics, which are now under the care of the National Museum.
- This was followed by the discovery of more than 40 terracotta sealings from different levels and spots in the eastern monastery at Piprahwa, establishing that Piprahwa was the ancient Kapilavastu.
