Culture ministry had threatened legal action over planned auction of Piprahwa precious stones
The Indian government has secured the repatriation of ancient gem relics linked to the Buddha’s remains, two months after it halted their auction in Hong Kong.
In a post on X, the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, said the return of the Piprahwa gems after 127 years was “a joyous day for our cultural heritage”.
Sotheby’s postponed the sale of the gems in May after the Indian culture ministry threatened to take legal action against the auction house in Indian and Hong Kong courts and through international bodies “for violations of cultural heritage laws”.
Many Buddhists believe the gems are imbued with the presence of the Buddha and should be treated as corporeal remains.
