New Delhi, January 3: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated an exhibition of ancient sacred gems and bone relics associated with Lord Buddha, describing them as a vital part of India’s civilisational and spiritual legacy rather than historical artefacts confined to museums.
Addressing a gathering at the inauguration of “The Light and the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One” at the Qila Rai Pithora Cultural Complex in south Delhi, Modi said the relics symbolise India’s deep-rooted spiritual connection with Buddhist communities across the world. He noted that the Piprahwa Relics had previously travelled to countries such as Vietnam, Thailand and Russia, drawing massive crowds of devotees and evoking strong expressions of faith.
The Prime Minister said the reverence shown to the relics abroad highlights that India’s ties with other nations go beyond political, diplomatic and economic engagements.
According to him, shared faith, spirituality and emotional bonds form the strongest link between India and the Buddhist world.
Recalling the return of the relics to India after more than a century, Modi said the government, along with the Godrej Group, intervened last year to stop their auction in Hong Kong. He stressed that for India, the relics are inseparable from its civilisation and cultural identity.
“India is not just the guardian of Lord Buddha’s sacred relics, but also the living carrier of his teachings and traditions,” the Prime Minister said, speaking in the presence of Buddhist scholars, diplomats and spiritual leaders.
Modi also spoke about his personal association with Buddhist heritage, noting that his birthplace Vadnagar in Gujarat was once an important centre of Buddhist learning. He described Sarnath, where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon, as his karmabhoomi, adding that it holds special significance as he represents the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency.
The Prime Minister said that even before assuming office, he travelled extensively as a pilgrim to Buddhist sites, and as Prime Minister, he has visited major Buddhist centres across Asia. He recalled visits to Lumbini in Nepal, temples in Japan, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in China and the Gandan Monastery in Mongolia.
He said his visit to the Jaya Sri Mahabodhi in Sri Lanka helped him connect with the legacy of Emperor Ashoka and the spread of Buddhism through Bhikkhu Mahinda and Sanghamitra. Modi added that experiences at Wat Pho in Thailand and the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Singapore further deepened his understanding of the global influence of Buddha’s message.
Highlighting symbolic gestures of peace, Modi said he often carried saplings of the Bodhi tree to Buddhist pilgrimage centres worldwide. Referring to a Bodhi tree planted in Hiroshima, he said it stands as a powerful message of compassion and resilience for humanity.
The Prime Minister said the government is committed to ensuring that Buddhist heritage is preserved and passed on to future generations. He pointed out that initiatives such as the Global Buddhist Summit and international observances of Vesak and Ashadha Purnima reflect this commitment.
Modi also said that granting classical language status to Pali would help people better understand the Buddha’s teachings in their original form and strengthen academic research related to Buddhist philosophy.
The Piprahwa Relics are regarded as among the earliest archaeological remains directly linked to Lord Buddha. Archaeological studies associate the Piprahwa site with ancient Kapilavastu, believed to be the place where Buddha spent his early life before renouncing worldly life.
