Buddha relics to be taken to Mongolia

Subject: History

Section: Art and Culture

Four Holy Relics of Lord Buddha will be displayed at Batsagaan Temple, within the premises of Gandan Monastery.
A 25-member delegation, led by Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, will accompany the relics on their journey.
The four relics coming from among 22 Buddha relics are known as the ‘Kapilvastu Relics’ since they are from a site in Bihar believed to be the ancient city of Kapilvastu. They were discovered in 1898.
The last time these relics were taken out of the country was in 2012, when their exposition was held in Sri Lanka.
The Kapilvastu relics have been taken out of India only six times in the past.
In 2015, the Holy Relics were placed under ‘AA’ category of antiquities and art treasures that should not be ordinarily taken out of the country for exhibition, considering their delicate nature.

About Relics

Some relics were discovered from Piprahwa, in UP’s Siddharthnagar district, believed to be a part of the ancient city of Kapilavastu.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had conducted excavations at Piprahwa between 1971 and 1977, wherein they discovered two inscribed steatite stone caskets containing 12 sacred relics from the bigger casket and 10 sacred relics from the smaller casket.
The inscription on the lid of the casket refers to the relics of the Buddha and the Shakya clan.