Four Holy Relics of Lord Buddha are being taken from India to Mongolia, for an 11-day exposition as part of celebrations of Mongolian Buddh Purnima falling on 14th June, 2022.
A 25-member delegation, led by Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju will leave for Mongolia on 12th June, along with the sacred relics in a special gesture to the people of Mongolia.
Briefing journalists about the visit today, Mr Rijiju said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the first-ever Prime Minister of India to visit Mongolia in 2015, and taking the relics to Mongolia is an extension of the vision of our Prime Minister to revive our relations with the countries with whom we have had cultural and spiritual ties since centuries ago.
The Relics will be accorded the status of a State Guest and will be taken in the same climate control case as it has been kept presently at the National Museum.
Indian Air force has made available a special airplane C-17 Globe Master to carry the holy relics. The relics will be received in Mongolia by the Culture Minister of Mongolia; Advisor to the President of Mongolia and a large number of monks among other dignitaries.
Two Bullet Proof casings as well as two ceremonial caskets are being carried by the Indian Delegation for both the Relics. The Lord Buddha Relics available in Mongolia would also be displayed along with the relics from India.
The Holy Relics will be displayed at the Batsagaan Temple within the premises of Gandan Monastery. The Holy Buddha Relics, currently housed in the National Museum, are known as the ‘Kapilvastu Relics’ since they are from a site in Bihar first discovered in 1898 which is believed to be the ancient city of Kapilvastu.
Mr Rijiju explained that Mongolia and India look upon each other as spiritual and cultural neighbours and due to this commonality, Mongolia can also be said to be our ‘Third Neighbour’ even though we don’t enjoy any common physical boundaries.
Briefing the media virtually, Union minister for Culture, Tourism and DoNER, Mr G.Kishan Reddy said that Lord Buddha is revered not only in India but all over the world.
Mr Reddy explained that the Government is making all efforts to spread Lord Buddha’s message of peace and compassion all over the world.
In a first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Mongolia, in 2015 PM Modi visited Gandan Monastery and also presented a Bodhi Tree Sapling to Hamba Lama. Pointing out the centuries old Buddhist ties between the two countries, PM Modi defined India and Mongolia as spiritual neighbours during his address to the Mongolian Parliament.
The last time these relics were taken out of the country was in 2012 when their exposition was held in Sri Lanka and were on display at several locations across the island nation.
Since the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has been supporting Mongolia in various fields and in cultural realms. India has printed 75 copies of 108 volumes of Mongolian Kanjur and handed over to the Mongolian Government and various Buddhist Institutions there. The work of digitisation of the Kanjur manuscripts is also in full swing. Around 500 Mongolian monks are studying in different monasteries and institutions in India for which India has facilitated their travel and Visas in past few years.
Click here for more details of the sacred relics of Lord Buddha
