Postponement of Auction of Ancient Gems Linked to Buddha's Remains
Sotheby's has postponed the auction of a collection of ancient gems linked to the Buddha’s remains after the Indian government threatened legal action and demanded their repatriation.
Key Points
- Auction of Piprahwa Gems of the Historical Buddha postponed
- Indian government demanded repatriation of the gems
- Gems named after town in Uttar Pradesh where they were buried around 200-240 BC
- Many Buddhists believe gems are imbued with Buddha's presence
- Gems were scheduled to sell for about $12.9 million in Hong Kong
Cons
- Offensive to the world’s 500 million Buddhists
- Violation of Indian and international law and United Nations conventions