Despite strong opposition from many Buddhists, a revered collection of more than 300 ancient Buddhist relics is scheduled to be auctioned on the 7th by Sotheby’s Auctions, a prominent British-based firm specializing in fine art, collectibles, and jewellery. The collection is estimated to fetch HK$100 million (approximately LKR 3.86 billion).
The sacred relics, which include gemstones, crystals, gold, and pearls, are believed to date back to the time of the Buddha and are regarded as objects of deep spiritual significance. This collection was originally unearthed in 1898 from a stupa in Piprahwa village, located in Uttar Pradesh, India. The stupa is believed to have been constructed by the ancient Sakya dynasty to enshrine the relics of the Buddha.
Sotheby’s Auctions has highlighted the collection as possessing extraordinary religious, archaeological, and historical value, and has added it to their upcoming auction list underlining its uniqueness.
However, Sotheby’s Hong Kong, which is overseeing the auction, has clarified that while the collection contains gemstones that were embedded in the urn that once held the relics of the Buddha, it does not include the Buddha’s actual relics.
