Tawang, Oct 31 The holy relics of Shakyamuni Buddha, which arrived in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang on Saturday, are being hosted at the country’s largest monastery here for a week-long exposition.
Nestled in the serene hills of the eastern Himalayan range, Tawang Monastery was founded in the 17th century by Merak Lama Lodre Gyatso in accordance with the wishes of the 5th Dalai Lama.
“The journey of the sacred relics for this exposition in Tawang began late on the night of October 30, when they were taken out of the National Museum after a sacred ceremony and transported to the Palam Air Force Station. From there, they were ferried to Guwahati in a special IAF aircraft,” a senior official said.
From Guwahati, they were brought to Tawang on a chopper on Saturday and then taken to the monastery for enshrinement and exposition, which will continue till November 7, the official said.
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who visited the monastery on Saturday, said he had the “sacred privilege of receiving the holy relics of Bhagwan Buddha at the historic Tawang Monastery, one of the most revered centres of Buddhist spirituality”.
“Offered my prayers and sought blessings for peace, harmony and the well-being of all. A deeply humbling and spiritually enriching experience amid the timeless traditions of Bharat’s rich civilisational heritage,” Shekhawat posted on X, along with visuals of the arrival of the holy relics.
An example of Mahayana Buddhism, Tawang Monastery is the largest monastery in India, according to a description on the Incredible India website.
Also known as Gaden Namgyal Lhatse, which means “the divine paradise of complete victory”, the monastery is situated at an elevation of more than 10,000 feet and overlooks the picturesque Tawang Valley.
The three-storey monastery is enclosed by a 925-foot-long compound wall and consists of 65 residential buildings. Its library houses valuable old scriptures, mainly Kangyur and Tengyur, the website says.
The culture ministry is hosting the exposition in collaboration with the government of Arunachal Pradesh, the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) and the National Museum from October 31 to November 21.
After the display at the Tawang Monastery, the sacred Piprahwa relics linked to Lord Buddha will be taken to Bomdila and Namsai, reflecting Arunachal Pradesh’s rich Buddhist traditions.
In a post on X, PIB Culture shared a letter by Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on the exposition in Tawang.
“His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama welcomes the exposition of the sacred relics of Bhagwan Buddha in Arunachal Pradesh, highlighting their spiritual significance in inspiring peace, devotion and compassion, and encouraging a deeper understanding of Buddha’s teachings,” it said.
In his letter dated October 19, the Dalai Lama said, “I hope that in addition to receiving blessings, the devotees will be encouraged by the relics to deepen their understanding of Buddhism through study, reflection and practice.”
Piprahwa, the present-day Siddharthnagar district in Uttar Pradesh, occupies a prominent place in the archaeological history of Buddhism.
In 1898, William Claxton Peppe excavated a stupa at the site and discovered reliquaries containing bone fragments and precious objects, bringing international attention to the historical and religious significance of the discovery.
Subsequently, the Archaeological Survey of India conducted excavations between 1971 and 1977, under the supervision of archaeologist K M Srivastava. Excavations at deeper levels revealed two additional reliquary caskets containing ancient bone relics traditionally associated with Lord Buddha, the culture ministry said.
The larger casket contained 12 sacred bone fragments, while the smaller casket contained 10, making a total of 22 sacred relics recovered during these excavations. Of these, 20 are preserved at the National Museum in New Delhi and two at the Indian Museum in Kolkata.
The relics, comprising ancient osteological material, are regarded as exceptionally rare and are accorded profound religious reverence by Buddhist communities.
Their historical and archaeological importance is accompanied by a deep spiritual significance rooted in the long-established Buddhist tradition of relic veneration.
On November 8, the holy relics are scheduled to be ferried from Tawang to Rupa by helicopter and thereafter by road to Bomdila. The itinerary includes ceremonial reception at Upper Gompa before their installation at Lower Gompa, the officials said.
On November 14, the holy relics will be transported from Bomdila to Rupa by road and thereafter by helicopter to Nalung Helipad, Namsai. They will be taken to the Golden Pagoda for the exposition.
(PTI News)
