Piprahwa Relics
Context:
The Union Ministry of Culture is organising the cultural exposition “Lotus Light: Relics of the Awakened One” in New Delhi, showcasing the Piprahwa Relics. Some relics were repatriated to India in 2025 after surfacing at an overseas auction.
About Piprahwa Relics
Discovery and location
Discovered in 1898 at Piprahwa Stupa, Siddharthnagar district, Uttar Pradesh.
Excavated by William Claxton Peppé, a British engineer.
The site is widely identified with ancient Kapilavastu, the homeland of Gautama Buddha.
Piprahwa lies close to Lumbini (present-day Nepal), Buddha’s birthplace.
Nature of relics
Bone fragments (believed to be Buddha’s relics)
Crystal and steatite caskets
Gold ornaments and gemstones
An inscription in early Brahmi script attributes the relics to Buddha’s Sakya clan.
Dating: 3rd century BCE (Mauryan–early post-Mauryan period).
Colonial handling
Under the Indian Treasure Trove Act, 1878, the British Crown claimed ownership.
Bone relics were gifted to King Rama V of Siam (Thailand).
Majority of gem and jewellery offerings were deposited in the Indian Museum, Kolkata.
Today, replicas are displayed; originals are dispersed across Buddhist sites in Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar.
Prince Prisdang
What role did he play?
1899 transfer
Where were the bone relics distributed? The relics were subsequently enshrined across major Buddhist centres:
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ASI excavations
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) excavations during 1971–77 uncovered:
22 additional bone relics
Preserved in steatite caskets
These are now housed in the National Museum, New Delhi.
Repatriation in 2025
Relics held by the Peppé family surfaced at an auction in Hong Kong.
Through efforts of the Ministry of Culture and private partners, the relics were repatriated to India in July 2025.
Seen as a major step in cultural heritage repatriation and decolonisation of heritage.
Connection to the “Drona Stupa”
Mahaparinibbana Sutta account
After Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana at Kushinagar (c. 480 BCE), a dispute arose over his relics.
A Brahmin named Drona intervened.
He divided the relics into eight equal shares among eight ruling clans:
Sakyas of Kapilavastu
Licchavis of Vaishali
Mallas of Kushinagar
Others (Magadha, Bulis, etc.)
Piprahwa’s significance
The Piprahwa Stupa is believed to be the stupa built by the Sakyas over their one-eighth share of Buddha’s relics.
Hence, it is associated with the original Drona Stupa tradition, not later commemorative stupas.
Prelims Practice MCQs
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Piprahwa Relics:
They were discovered in 1898 at a site identified with ancient Kapilavastu.
A Brahmi inscription links the relics to Buddha’s Sakya clan.
All the relics discovered at Piprahwa are currently housed in India.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Correct answer: (a)
Q. The “Drona Stupa” is associated with which of the following events?
(a) Buddha’s enlightenment at Bodh Gaya
(b) Distribution of Buddha’s relics after his cremation
(c) Construction of Ashokan pillars
(d) Fourth Buddhist Council
Correct answer: (b)
Q. With reference to the Piprahwa Stupa, consider the following:
It is believed to have been built by the Sakyas over their share of Buddha’s relics.
It dates to the Gupta period.
It is located in present-day Uttar Pradesh.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Correct answer: (a)