Controversy Erupts Over Auction of Buddha Relics
A storm of controversy surrounds the impending auction of ancient jewels discovered within a Buddhist stupa in Piprahwa, Uttar Pradesh, India. The Indian government is vehemently protesting the sale, scheduled for May 7th by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong, arguing that the relics are of immense religious and cultural significance and should not be treated as mere antiquities. The jewels, estimated to be worth over eleven million euros, are believed to be mixed with the ashes of Buddha himself, making their auction a deeply sensitive issue.
The relics were unearthed in 1898 by William Claxton Peppé, a British colonial landowner, on his estate in northern India. His discovery, detailed in a report by The Guardian, involved excavating a massive tomb resembling a giant sarcophagus. Inside this chamber, five containers were found, holding approximately 1,800 precious stones. Crucially, one of the urns bore an inscription indicating that the remains within belonged to the Buddha.
The jewels in question, a selection of which are slated for auction, consist of amethysts, corals, garnets, pearls, rock crystals, shells, and gold. These items were originally interred within a dome-shaped funerary monument, the stupa, in Piprahwa. The burial is estimated to have taken place around 240-200 BCE, centuries after Buddha’s death, which occurred around 480 BCE. According to Buddhist tradition, following Buddha’s cremation, his relics were divided into eight portions and distributed among the eight kings who attended the ceremony to pay their respects.
Ashley Thompson, a professor specializing in Asian art history at the University of London, emphasized the sacred nature of the relics in a statement to The Guardian. She stated, "The bones, ashes, and precious stones were found together inside the funerary monument, and their custodians wanted them to be reunited in perpetuity." This perspective aligns with the views of historians consulted by the BBC, who argue that the relics should not be treated as commodities for sale on the open market. They consider them a heritage belonging to Buddhists worldwide.
Adding another layer of complexity to the situation, the British Crown initially claimed ownership of the relics following William Claxton Peppé’s discovery. This claim was based on the Indian Treasure Trove Act of 1878, which stipulated that treasures found in India became the property of the British Crown. This remained the case until the British departure from India in 1947. Reportedly, most of the 1,800 precious stones uncovered by Peppé were transferred to the Indian Museum in Kolkata. However, Chris Peppé, William Claxton Peppé’s heir and the current seller, was allowed to retain approximately one-fifth of the original find.
The Indian Ministry of Culture has taken a firm stance against the auction. In a letter posted on its Instagram account on May 5th, 2025, the ministry demanded the immediate cessation of the sale. It declared that the precious stone relics "constitute an inalienable religious and cultural heritage of India and the global Buddhist community." The ministry further announced plans to launch a public campaign highlighting Sotheby’s role in what they perceive as "perpetuating colonial injustice and participating in the unethical sale of religious relics." This forceful condemnation reflects the deep-seated concerns within India regarding the ownership and appropriate treatment of its historical and religious artifacts. The government’s intervention signifies a commitment to protecting its cultural heritage from commercial exploitation.
Sotheby’s has defended its decision to proceed with the auction, stating that it has conducted thorough due diligence. A spokesperson for the auction house told The Guardian, "We have carried out the required due diligence, including with respect to authenticity and provenance, legality, and other considerations, in accordance with our policies and industry standards for works of art and treasures." This assertion suggests that Sotheby’s believes it has complied with all applicable laws and regulations, and that the sale is legitimate. The auction house seems to be confident that the relics are legally owned by Chris Peppé, and that they have the right to sell them. However, their justification does little to appease the concerns raised by the Indian government and Buddhist communities.
Despite the widespread condemnation, the auction remains scheduled to proceed. Chris Peppé told CNN on Tuesday, May 6th, that 25% of the auction proceeds would be donated to "Buddhist institutions," with an additional 25% allocated to the exhibition of the main Piprahwa collection in Kolkata. This gesture, intended to mitigate criticism, has been largely dismissed as insufficient and opportunistic. Critics argue that the proposed donations do not address the fundamental issue of selling sacred relics for profit. Instead, they see it as a superficial attempt to deflect criticism and legitimize the sale. The underlying sentiment is that no amount of charitable giving can compensate for the cultural and spiritual harm caused by commodifying and auctioning off such significant religious artifacts. The controversy illustrates the complex interplay between cultural heritage, ownership rights, and ethical considerations in the global art market. The auction’s outcome will likely set a precedent for future cases involving culturally sensitive objects and the repatriation of historical artifacts.
