Brief Context
Context PM Modi inaugurated the Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics, titled “The Light the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One”, in New Delhi, marking the return of sacred Buddhist relics to India after more than a century. About Piprahwa relics The Piprahwa relics were discovered in 1898 by British civil engineer William Claxton Peppé in Piprahwa, Uttar Pradesh. They are excavated from the Piprahwa Stupa—widely recognized as the ancient city of Kapilavastu, the birthplace of
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Syllabus: GS1/ History and Culture
Context
- PM Modi inaugurated the Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics, titled “The Light & the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One”, in New Delhi, marking the return of sacred Buddhist relics to India after more than a century.
About Piprahwa relics
- The Piprahwa relics were discovered in 1898 by British civil engineer William Claxton Peppé in Piprahwa, Uttar Pradesh.
- They are excavated from the Piprahwa Stupa—widely recognized as the ancient city of Kapilavastu, the birthplace of Lord Buddha.
- They include bone fragments, soapstone and crystal caskets, a sandstone coffer, and offerings such as gold ornaments and gemstones.
- They are believed to be associated with the mortal remains of Lord Buddha.
- An inscription in the Brahmi script on one of the caskets confirms these as relics of the Buddha deposited by the Sakya clan.
- Status: Most of these relics were moved to the Indian Museum in Kolkata in 1899 and are legally protected as ‘AA’ antiquities, forbidding their sale or removal.
- While some bone relics were gifted to the King of Siam, a portion kept by Peppé’s descendants.
Major Schools of Buddhism
- Theravada Buddhism: Focuses on individual liberation and is prominent in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia.
- Mahayana Buddhism: Emphasises compassion and the Bodhisattva ideal, spreading across East Asia.
- Vajrayana Buddhism: Incorporates ritual practices and tantric elements, prevalent in Tibet, Bhutan, and the Himalayan region.
Core Philosophical Foundations of Buddhism
- Four Noble Truths:
- Dukkha: Life is suffering or unsatisfactory.
- Samudaya: Suffering is caused by craving and attachment (tanhā).
- Nirodha: The cessation of suffering is possible by letting go of craving.
- Magga: The path to the cessation of suffering is the Eightfold Path.
- The Noble Eightfold Path (Magga): Right Understanding/View, Right Thought/Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration.
Relevance of Buddhism in Contemporary World
- Mental Well-being: Buddhist meditation traditions, especially Vipassana and its related forms, are widely used to manage stress, anxiety, and mental health challenges in fast-paced modern life.
- Teachings of non-attachment and humility provide an ethical response to excessive consumerism, comparison, and ego-driven living encouraged by modern society and social media.
- The Middle Way: The principle of the Middle Way encourages balanced living by avoiding extremes of indulgence and austerity.
- Compassion: The Buddhist values of karuṇā (compassion) and mettā (loving-kindness) promote empathy, moral responsibility, and peaceful coexistence in societies marked by inequality and conflict.
- Inclusive and Universal Appeal: Buddhism’s inclusive philosophy makes it relevant in pluralistic, multicultural, and democratic societies.
Source: DD News