Kapilvastu relics of Gautam Buddha brought back from Mongolia after exposition
In Mongolia, the holy relics of Bhagwan Buddha were accorded the status of a State Guest and were kept in the same climate control case as it has been kept presently at the National Museum.
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New Delhi, Jun 28: The four holy relics of Bhagwan Gautam Buddha were brought back to India, after being displayed for 12 days at the Batsagaan Temple within the premises of Gandan Monastery, as part of celebrations of Mongolian Buddh Purnima. Union Minister of State for Culture Arjun Meghwal received the holy relics at Ghaziabad on Jun 27.
The duration of display of Holy relics that was initially 11 days, was extended by a few days on popular demand from Mongolian people. On the first day of the exposition (Jun 14), about 18-20 thousand devotees paid their obeisance to the Holy Buddha Relics. An average of 5-6 thousand devotees visited Gandan Monastery on working days, while on closed days an average of 9-10 thousand devotees paid their respects. On the conclusive day about 18 thousand devotees visited Gandan to pay their respects to the holy relics.
The Holy Buddha Relics, are known as the ‘Kapilvastu Relics’ since they are from a site in Bihar first discovered in 1898 which is believed to be the ancient city of Kapilvastu. In Mongolia, the relics were accorded the status of a State Guest and were kept in the same climate control case as it has been kept presently at the National Museum. A special airplane of the Indian Air Force, C-17 Globe Master, carried the holy relics back to India after the 12 day exposition.
In a first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Mongolia, in 2015 PM Narendra Modi visited Gandan Monastery and also presented a Bodhi Tree Sapling to Hamba Lama. Pointing out the centuries old Buddhist ties between the two countries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi defined India and Mongolia as spiritual neighbors during his address to the Mongolian Parliament.
The last time these relics were taken out of the country was in 2012 when their exposition was held in Sri Lanka and were on display at several locations across the island nation. However, later guidelines were issued and the Holy Relics were placed under the ‘AA’ category of those Antiquities and Art Treasures which should not be ordinarily taken out of the country for exhibition, considering their delicate nature.