Why in news?
India has sent the sacred relics of Lord Buddha discovered at the Devnimori stupa in Gujarat for a special exposition in Sri Lanka. The Buddhist relics, kept in the National Museum in Delhi, will be displayed at the Seema Malaka temple and other venues from February to March 2026 as part of celebrations marking 2600 years since the Buddha’s parinirvana.
Background
The Devnimori site near Shamalaji in Sabarkantha district came to light in 1957 when archaeologists unearthed a 2,000‑year‑old stupa. Inside a stone box they found a copper casket inscribed with the words “dashabala sharira nilay”, meaning “abode of the relics of the Tathagata”. The casket contained fragments of bone and ashes believed to be the mortal remains of Gautama Buddha. The relics were later moved to the National Museum for safekeeping and are rarely taken out.
Importance of the exposition
- Spiritual ties: Sri Lanka is a predominantly Buddhist nation with a deep reverence for relics. Displaying the Devnimori relics strengthens cultural and religious bonds between the two countries.
- Cultural diplomacy: India’s Ministry of Culture and the International Buddhist Confederation collaborated on the exposition, highlighting India’s role as the birthplace of Buddhism.
- Regional harmony: The visit coincides with other cultural exchanges and aims to foster goodwill in South Asia.
Significance of Devnimori
- The site represents an important centre of Theravada Buddhist art in western India and shows evidence of trade and pilgrimage networks between India and Sri Lanka in ancient times.
- The inscription on the casket provides rare epigraphic evidence linking the stupa to the Buddha himself.
Source: PIB
