An estimated 1 million people turned up in Bangkok to view the relics of the Buddha and his disciples that are enshrined in this special mandapam at the Sanam Luang Royal Palace ground.
The relics of Lord Buddha and two of his disciples were taken to Thailand in a special Air Force plane from India with the status of ‘state guest’ on February 22.
The relics of Lord Buddha have been taken from the National Museum and are known as Kapilvastu relics. The relics of the two disciples, Sariputra and Maha Maudgalayana, were preserved in Madhya Pradesh’s Sanchi.They are part of a 26-day special exposition in Thailand. Usually such relics are not taken out of the country for any exhibitions. But this was done on a special request by the Thai government
It’s the first time ever that the relics of Buddha and his disciples are being displayed together
Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar presented the relics of Lord Buddha to Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. In a post on X (formerly Twitter, the Governor wrote, “It is my great good fortune that today we have reached Bangkok carrying the sacred bone remains of Lord Buddha and his two great disciples – Arihant Sariputta and Arihant Modgalayana.
Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar handed over the relics of Arahants Sariputra and Maha Maudgalayana to Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsutin and Thai Culture Minister.”
The relics are dated 4th-5th century BC and were found in an excavation at Piprahwa, considered a part of the site of ancient Kapilavastu
The relics were excavated in the 1970s by the Archeological Survey of India.
