Relics Buddhism

The first place of pilgrimage is the Buddha relics displayed at the National Museum in New Delhi. There are about a dozen pieces of bone from the Buddha’s body that were found at Piprahwa under a stupa probably built by the Emperor Ashoka over the original site of one of the eight places the Buddha’s bones were distributed following his death and cremation.

Keeping relics (objects of worship that contain body parts of deceased religious figures) has been an important part of Buddhism since the death of the historical sage, Sakyamuni, in the 500s bce. Sakyamuni is the man who first spread the teachings of what would become Buddhism. He was the first person to reach enlightenment, transcend suffering, and become a buddha. According to tradition, the cremated remains of the Buddha were divided into nine groups, and memorial stupas (shrines with domed