The remains were flown in a special Indian Air Force aircraft on Thursday. (file)
Bangkok:
The sacred relics of Lord Buddha and his two disciples, brought from India to Thailand, were on Friday installed in a specially built pavilion at Bangkok’s Sanam Luang Pavilion for public worship amid great reverence and sacred chants.
Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar handed over the relics of Lord Buddha to Thai Prime Minister Shretha Thavisin, while the relics of Arihants Sariputra and Maha Maudgalayana were handed over by Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar to Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsutin and Thai Culture Minister. To be installed in the mandapam, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Culture of India.
The relics, revered by Buddhist followers around the world, were flown in a special Indian Air Force aircraft on Thursday.
A majestic parade of relics emerging from the National Museum was also held as part of a 26-day exhibition of the relics of Lord Buddha and his two disciples showcasing Thailand’s culture and heritage, the release said.
This will be the first time that the sacred relics of Lord Buddha and his disciples will be displayed together.
These remains date back to the 4th-5th century BCE and were found in the 1970s by a team of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officials in an excavation at Piprahwa, which is believed to be a part of the ancient Kapilavastu site.
On this occasion, an exhibition named “Buddha Bhoomi Bharat” was organized by the Governments of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh to showcase spiritual and religious tourism destinations in India.
Bihar Governor Arlekar said he felt blessed to be a part of this grand exhibition and underlined that Lord Buddha, the epitome of compassion and non-violence, attained enlightenment on the holy land of India.
Following his teachings, he said, India has always given the message of ‘karuna’ (empathy) and ‘ahimsa’ (non-violence) to the world.
This exhibition will further spread Lord Buddha’s message of love, peace and compassion for all living beings, he said.
The Governor expressed hope that this exhibition will take bilateral relations between India and Thailand to new heights.
The Thai Culture Minister expressed his gratitude to the Government of India for giving Thailand the opportunity to exhibit the sacred relics and said that his country will make all efforts to spread the message of Lord Buddha to mankind.
Earlier during the day, Governor Arlekar, who is leading the delegation of the Lord Buddha exhibition in Thailand, visited the Wat Pho temple in Bangkok, where he saw the 108 volumes of the Mongolian Kangyur (Tri Pitika – Buddhist cannon) and Buddhist statues. Presented a set of 26 books on religion. From Professor Satya Vrat Shastri to Most Ven Dr Debvajracharya, Deputy Abbot of Wat Pho.
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