Piprahwa Gems

Why in News?

Global concern: Buddhist scholars and monks from around the world have raised concerns over the auction of the ancient Piprahwa Gems, believed to be associated with the Buddha.

They argue that the gems are sacred relics, imbued with the spiritual presence of the Buddha, and should not be sold commercially.

Description:

1. Location: Discovered in Piprahwa, in present-day Uttar Pradesh, India.
2. Discovery:
   1. Excavated in 1898 by William Claxton Peppe, a British colonial engineer.
   1. Found in a stupa (burial monument) on his estate.
3. Significance:
   1. An inscription on a reliquary identified the contents as the relics of the Buddha, including cremated remains.
   1. The site became the first credible modern discovery of the Buddha’s relics.
4. Contents:
   1. The cache included 1,800 items, comprising:
      1. Gems: Amethysts, coral, garnets, pearls, rock crystals.
      1. Other items: Shells, gold (in pendants, beads, ornaments, or raw form).
5. Legal Status:
   1. The British crown claimed the find under the Indian Treasure Trove Act, 1878.
   1. Bone and ash fragments were later gifted to King Chulalongkorn of Siam (Thailand) by the British.
6. Current Distribution:
   1. Majority of the gems are in the Indian Museum, Kolkata.
   1. William Peppe was allowed to retain about one-fifth, labelled as “duplicates” by colonial officials.

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