A Spiritual Homecoming: Buddha’s Sacred Relics Return to India After 127 Years

Relics rescued from auction rekindle global Buddhist connection to Piprahwa

Uttar Pradesh: In a moment of deep historical and spiritual significance, the revered Piprahwa relics—believed to contain actual remains of Lord Buddha—have returned to India after 127 years. Unearthed in 1898 from a stupa in Piprahwa, a village near Siddharthnagar in Uttar Pradesh, the relics are believed to have once rested in the care of the Buddha’s own Shakya clan.

Their return follows global pressure and intervention by the Indian government to halt their planned auction at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the relics' return as a proud moment for India’s cultural and spiritual heritage. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote: "A joyous day for our cultural heritage! These sacred relics highlight India’s close association with Bhagwan Buddha and his noble teachings."

Piprahwa: More Than Just a Site

Piprahwa is not just an archaeological site—it is believed to be the final resting place of part of the Buddha’s cremated remains, buried between 240–200 BCE. For millions of Buddhists, relics such as these are more than historical objects; they are śarīra-dhātu—sacred physical remains symbolising the living presence of the Enlightened One.

As noted by scholar Sangeeta from The Stone Studio, Buddha’s relics are revered from Sri Lanka to Japan, and continue to inspire pilgrimages and spiritual devotion across borders.

The homecoming of the Piprahwa relics is a powerful reminder of India’s foundational role in the Buddhist world. It also renews a spiritual bridge between the physical and the transcendental—a testament to the enduring legacy of the Dharma and the eternal light of the Buddha.