 "The Indian gems linked to the Buddha are being auctioned. Image Courtesy: Sotheby's")
After receiving a legal notice from the Ministry of Culture on Monday evening, international auction house Sotheby’s has assured the Indian government that it will take the necessary steps to halt the auction of sacred Buddhist relics, The Indian Express reported.
The auction was set to take place on May 7, as per the auction house’s website.
The Ministry of Culture urged Sotheby’s Hong Kong to withdraw the relics from the auction and cooperate with Indian authorities to ensure their return to their rightful place.
These relics were discovered at the Piprahwa Stupa, believed to be the site of the ancient city of Kapilavastu, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. They are also said to be of immense historical and spiritual significance.
Earlier, the auction faced fierce backlash, with Buddhist groups calling for action to prevent the sale.
This prompted the ministry to gather information and send a formal letter to the auction house, an official told The Indian Express.
The Piprahwa relics were discovered by William Claxton Peppé in 1898. They include bone fragments, soapstone and crystal caskets, a sandstone box, and offerings such as gold ornaments and gemstones. A Brahmi inscription on one of the caskets identifies them as relics of the Buddha, placed there by the Sakya clan.
The upcoming auction drew attention after the relics were listed on Sotheby’s website.
The listing stated: “Sotheby’s is honoured to present the Piprahwa gems, appearing for the first time in Hong Kong. The 1898 discovery of these gems by William Claxton Peppé at Piprahwa in northern India, where they were found buried together in reliquaries with the corporeal relics of the Historical Buddha, ranks among the most extraordinary archaeological discoveries of all time.”
Impact Shorts
More ShortsAlthough the listing remains on the website, officials from the Culture Ministry told The Indian Express that the auction house has assured them of prompt action.
The Piprahwa Stupa is an ancient Buddhist site located near the India–Nepal border in the Siddharthnagar district of Uttar Pradesh. It is considered one of the earliest Buddhist stupas and is closely associated with the relics of the Buddha.
One of the caskets bears a Brahmi inscription confirming the relics belonged to Gautama Buddha and were donated by the Sakya clan, his own family.
Most of these relics were transferred to the Indian Museum in Kolkata in 1899 and are legally protected as ‘AA’ antiquities under Indian law, which prohibits their sale or export.
On Sotheby’s website, Chris Peppe wrote: “The Piprahwa gem relics were passed down from my great uncle to his son, and in 2013, they came to me and my two cousins. That’s when I began deeply researching the discovery made by my great-grandfather, William Claxton Peppé.”
While some of the bone relics were gifted to the King of Siam, a selection retained by Peppé’s descendants has now been listed for auction. Upon learning of this, the Ministry of Culture issued a legal notice to Sotheby’s in Hong Kong to immediately halt the sale, according to an official. The ministry has also served a notice to Chris Peppe, asking him to withdraw the relics from the auction and return them to India.