After 127 years, the treasured Piprahwa relics, which are thought to contain the genuine remains of Lord Buddha, have returned to India in a moment of profound historical and spiritual significance. The Buddha’s own Shakya clan is thought to have formerly cared for the relics, which were discovered in 1898 in a stupa in Piprahwa, a village close to Siddharthnagar in Uttar Pradesh. Its homecoming comes after the Indian government intervened to stop its scheduled auction at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong due to international pressure. The return of the relics was celebrated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a moment of pride for India’s spiritual and cultural legacy.
In addition to being an archeological site, Piprahwa is thought to be the last resting place of some of the Buddha’s cremated remains, which were interred there between 240 and 200 BCE. Relics like this are more than just historical artifacts to millions of Buddhists; they are śarīra-dhātu, or sacred physical remains that represent the Enlightened One’s ongoing presence. Buddha’s relics are adored from Sri Lanka to Japan, and they continue to inspire pilgrimages and spiritual devotion beyond boundaries, according to scholar Sangeeta.
A potent reminder of India’s founding position in the Buddhist world is provided by the return of the Piprahwa relics. Additionally, it restores a spiritual link between the material and the spiritual realms, which is evidence of the Dharma’s lasting influence and the Buddha’s unending light.
