New Delhi, Jan 3: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the wisdom and path shown by Bhagwan Buddha belong to all humanity and that his sacred relics are not merely artefacts but an integral part of India’s revered heritage and civilisation.
Inaugurating the grand international exposition of the sacred Piprahwa Relics, discovered in 1898, the Prime Minister said Bhagwan Buddha belongs to everyone and continues to unite people across the world. He described the return of the relics as the homecoming of India’s sacred legacy after a wait of more than a century.
“For India, the sacred relics of Bhagwan Buddha are not merely artefacts; they are a part of our revered heritage and an inseparable part of our civilisation,” Modi said at the event, which was attended by Buddhist scholars, diplomats and other dignitaries.
Modi said that after one-and-a-quarter centuries, India’s heritage has returned, adding that the teachings and wisdom of Bhagwan Buddha transcend borders and belong to all of humanity. He also thanked the Godrej Group for its role in ensuring the return of the relics to their homeland.
The Piprahwa Relics occupy a central place in the archaeological study of early Buddhism and are regarded as among the earliest and most historically significant deposits directly associated with Bhagwan Buddha, according to an official statement.
Archaeological evidence links the Piprahwa site to ancient Kapilavastu, widely identified as the place where Bhagwan Buddha spent his early life before renunciation. (Agencies)
