Holy Buddha Relics return to India from Mongolia after 12-day exposition

NEW DELHI: The four Holy Relics of Lord Buddha have come back to India after being displayed for 12 days at the Batsagaan Temple within the premises of Gandan Monastery, Mongolia as part of celebrations of Mongolian Buddh Purnima.

The President of Mongolia, Speaker of Parliament of Mongolia, Mongolia’s Foreign Minister, Culture Minister, Tourism Minister, Energy Minister, more than 20 MPs, and High Abbots from over 100 Monasteries from Mongolia were among the thousands who paid their respects to the revered relics during 12-day exposition at the Gandan Monastery.

On the concluding day the Interior Minister of Culture of Mongolia was present for the rituals.

Union minister Arjun Meghwal received the holy relics at Ghaziabad on Monday. The duration of display of Holy relics in Mongolia had to be extended on popular demand from the Mongolian people.

The four Holy Kapilvastu Relics of Lord Buddha had reached Mongolia initially for an 11-day exposition on June 13 along with the 25-member delegation, led by Minister of Law and Justice, Kiren Rijiju accompanying the sacred relics.

The holy relics were received with great reverence and ceremoniously at the Ulaanbaatar International Airport by the Ms Ch Nomin, Culture Minister of Mongolia; Ms Saranchimeg, MP/Chairperson of India Mongolia Friendship Group; Advisor to the President of Mongolia, Khamba Nomun Khan and a large number of monks among other dignitaries.

On the day 1 of the exposition June 14, about 18-20 thousand devotees paid their obeisance to the Holy Buddha Relics. An average of 5-6 thousand devotees visited Gandan Monastery on working days, while on closed days an average of 9-10 thousand devotees paid their respects.

On the occasion Minister of Law and Justice, Kiren Rijiju had said that the historical relations between India and Mongolia will further strengthen with the coming of relics from India to Mongolia.

“Through the delegation India is carrying Buddha’s message of peace to the world. The main Buddha statue in the Gandan Monastery was gifted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 to the people of Mongolia and it has been installed in 2018. The people of Mongolia enjoy a strong bond with India and look up to India as source of wisdom. India occupies a special position in the hearts and minds of people of Mongolia,” the Union Minister added.

On the last day, about 18 thousand devotees visited Gandan to pay their respects to the holy relics. On the concluding day the Interior Minister of Culture was present for the rituals.

The Holy Buddha Relics, 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.

The Relics were accorded the status of a State Guest and were kept in the same climate control case as it has been kept presently at the National Museum. A special airplane C-17 Globe Master carried the holy relics back to India

In a first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Mongolia, in 2015 Narendra 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, Narendra 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. However, later guidelines were issued and the Holy Relics were placed under the ‘AA’ category of those Antiquities and Art Treasures which should not be ordinarily taken out of the country for exhibition, considering their delicate nature.

Strong bond between India and Mongolia strengthened during Covid pandemic:  

While visiting the Gandan Monastery with President of  Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh on June 15, Union minister Kiren Rijiju said that India during Covid pandemic helped many countries and he is delighted to see people of Mongolia happy today. The union minister also said that along with people to people connect, the  economic relations between India and Mongolia are also taking a new shape. “ I wish that more Indians should visit this beautiful country and  people-to-people connect enhances in near future,” he had added.

The president of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh had said that the special gesture of bringing holy Buddha’s relics to Mongolia is the proof of level of spiritual connection between India and Mongolia. The President on behalf of people of Mongolia thanked Indian government for organizing the exposition as a great gesture towards people of Mongolia.

The President also greatly appreciated that India was the first country which delivered Mongolia the vaccine and helped during the Covid pandemic and due to swift help, lives of thousands of Mongolians could be saved.

He said that the oil refineries being constructed by India in Mongolia is the symbol of growing bilateral relations between India and Mongolia and India is Mongolia’s one of  most reliable partners and its third neighbour. The President also stated that bringing holy Relics of Lord Buddha is a great way of enriching the bilateral relations.

Postage stamp on Kushok Bakula Rinpoche released:  

Later in the day, a postage stamp on Kushok Bakula Rinpoche was released by the State secretary, Foreign affairs, Mongolia Ankhbayar Nyamdorj and Indian ambassador to Mongolia M.P Singh in the presence of Kiren Rijiju; N Enkhbayar, former President of Mongolia and Khamba Nomun Khan of Gandan Monastery.

Addressing during the stamp release event, the Union Minister Rijiju had said that release of postage stamp in the name of Kushok Bakula Rinpoche was a defining moment for India and Mongolia in their spiritual and cultural journey together; and it will resonate not only in Mongolia but also in India.  He also added that this will go a long way in highlighting the remarkable work done by Rinpoche for Mongolia and for Strengthening  India Mongolia relations.