Buddha’s Sacred Piprahwa Jewels Return To India After 127 Years

Priceless artefacts repatriated from Sotheby’s Hong Kong with help from Godrej Industries

Amisha Shirgave Updated: Friday, August 01, 2025, 08:09 PM IST

In a landmark moment for cultural heritage preservation, India has successfully brought home a significant portion of the sacred Piprahwa relics associated with Lord Buddha, 127 years after they were removed during British colonial rule. The jewels had recently surfaced for auction at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, prompting a swift and determined effort by the Indian government and private sector to prevent their sale abroad.

Pirojsha Godrej, Executive Chairman of Godrej Industries Group, played a pivotal role by acquiring a collection of 349 sacred gems and ornaments, believed to have been buried with Buddha’s corporeal remains. Although the purchase amount remains undisclosed, estimates place the value of the collection at over $100 million.

Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat described the effort as “an exemplary case of public-private partnership,” highlighting how collaboration between industry and government helped India recover a piece of its spiritual and cultural identity.

National display and public access

A major portion of the acquired gems will be loaned to Delhi’s National Museum for a five-year public exhibition. Additionally, the entire collection will be displayed in its entirety for a special three-month showcase upon its return to India.

Meanwhile, the Indian Museum in Kolkata, which has safeguarded other parts of the Piprahwa relics since 1898-including bone fragments, soapstone caskets, and crystal urns-will also participate in an upcoming exhibition that unites the various elements of this ancient treasure.

Unearthed from Piprahwa

The original relics were discovered during an excavation of a stupa at Piprahwa, a historically significant Buddhist site near the India-Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh. In 1898, British engineer William Claxton Peppe led the excavation, uncovering reliquaries believed to contain the remains of Gautama Buddha, along with sacred jewels and offerings.

The gemstones eventually became part of the Peppe family’s private collection, passed down through generations until Chris Peppé, the excavator’s great-grandson, listed them for auction in May 2025 at Sotheby’s Hong Kong.

Global outcry and diplomatic pushback

The Culture Ministry swiftly intervened by serving legal notices to both Sotheby’s and Chris Peppé, demanding the withdrawal of the relics from auction. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), backed by Buddhist organizations, issued urgent appeals, and diplomatic channels were activated, including an approach to the UK’s Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy.

While the UK government expressed its inability to intervene due to the relics being privately held, the Indian government’s firm stance and growing public outcry led Sotheby’s to postpone the May 7 auction.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the return on social media, stating, “It would make every Indian proud that the sacred Piprahwa relics of Bhagwan Buddha have come home after 127 long years. These sacred relics highlight India’s close association with Bhagwan Buddha and his noble teachings.”

Published on: Friday, August 01, 2025, 08:09 PM IST

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