Buddha's Sacred Gems Return: Delhi Exposition Highlights Piprahwa's Hidden History

• A Grand International Exposition in Delhi showcases 349 sacred gems, believed to be buried with Buddha's bone fragments in a stupa around 483 BCE.
• The gems originated from the Piprahwa stupa in Siddharthnagar district, Uttar Pradesh, near the Indo-Nepal border, a site that remains tranquil despite the Delhi buzz.
• Discovered in 1897 by William Claxton Peppé, the Piprahwa stupa yielded an unprecedented quantity of gems and bone relics, with a Brahmi inscription confirming their connection to Buddha.
• After being retained by the Peppé family and nearly auctioned by Sotheby's, the gems were acquired by Godrej in partnership with the Indian government and returned to India.
• The Piprahwa site, meticulously maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India, and the Kapilavastu Museum offer a deeper historical context to the relics, predating Buddha's time.

Why It Matters: Buddha's sacred gems, returned to India, are on display in Delhi, highlighting Piprahwa's rich history.