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Light and the Lotus: Buddham Saranam Gacchami

May 18, 2026

In the bustling city of Delhi, a serene and spiritually uplifting exhibition titled “Light and the Lotus” is currently on display — a rare opportunity to witness one of the most sacred archaeological finds in Buddhist history. Few months back on a wintery weekend, I decided to be witness the common ground of history and spirituality. The exhibition is being hosted at Rai Pithora Cultural Complex, Lado Sarai and the entry is free.

Fig.1: Entrance to the Exhibition

The exhibition brings together relics excavated from Piprahwa, Uttar Pradesh (near Kushinagar), the ancient capital of the Shakya clan. These sacred remains, believed to include the **bones and ashes of Shakyamuni Buddha** himself, were first discovered in 1898 and later in 1971–73. A portion of these treasures has been recently brought back to India through the efforts of the Indian Government and the Godrej Group. It marks a historic repatriation (halting an auction at Sotheby’s) and highlights India’s role as the birthplace of Buddhism.

What is remarkable in this exhibition is that though it focuses on the relics of the Buddha which are both historic and religious, it also features important artefacts related to life of the Buddha from museums, so in a single space, the visitor can experience the spirit of Buddhism.

According to Buddhist tradition, after the Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana, his relics were divided among various clans. The Shakyas buried a portion at Piprahwa. Approximately 250 years later, Emperor Ashoka built a grand stupa over these sacred remains.

The Historic Discovery by William Peppe

In 1898, William Peppe, an estate manager turned amateur archaeologist, made a groundbreaking discovery while excavating a stupa at Piprahwa. His team unearthed a massive stone coffer containing several caskets. Among them was a exquisite crystal jar with a fish-shaped lid, filled with hundreds of glittering precious and semi-precious stones — over 1,600 in total.

The most significant find was the bone fragments and ashes. One of the caskets bore an inscription that led archaeologists to conclude these were the relics of the Buddha himself. A fraction of these treasures, famously known as the Piprahwa Treasures, remained with the Peppe family for over a century, preserved in the original frames made by William Peppe.

Figs. 2-8: The Piprahwa Treasures from the Peppe Collection in original framings done by Peppe, along with the precious jewels from Indian Museum, Kolkata. The white background images are enhanced for better clarity.

Figs. 9-14: Relic caskets, 3rd Century BCE, Piprahwa, Madhya Pradesh (Indian Museum, Kolkata) The jars including the fish-lid crystal jar were found inside the large stone coffer.

Recommended Documentary:

Watch the excellent BBC documentary *“Bones of the Buddha”* on YouTube:  

[https://youtu.be/yn3lk6xTF24](https://youtu.be/yn3lk6xTF24)

The Exhibition

Fig. 15: The Piprahwa Treasures are displayed in a stupa like exhibition space

“Light and the Lotus” is not just an exhibition — it is a deeply meditative experience. Designed in the shape of an inverted-bowl stupa, the space creates a peaceful and contemplative atmosphere. The hall is gracefully adorned with rare paintings, sculptures, and artefacts on loan from the National Museum, New Delhi, Indian Museum, Kolkata, and the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Delhi.

Highlights from the Exhibition include magnificent pieces such as:

– Transcendental Buddhas (Panchtathagata) from Nalanda

– Gandhara sculptures depicting key moments from the Buddha’s life

– Ancient inscriptions, votive stupas, and beautiful thangkas

– The historic stone coffer and relic caskets from Piprahwa

Fig. 16: Buddha with the eight Great Boddhisattvas – Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri, Maitreya, Vajrapani, Mahasthamaprapta, Samantabhadra, Kshitigarbha, and Sarvanivarana Vishkambhin; 10th century CE, Nalanda (National Museum, New Delhi)
Fig. 17: The Five Cosmic Buddhas representing the five elements (Panchtathagata) – 10th Century CE, Nalanda, Bihar (National Museum, Delhi)
Fig. 19: Ancient brick inscribed with sacred Buddhist sutra text. 6th century CE, Nalanda
(National Museum, New Delhi)
Fig. 20: The Buddha delivering his first sermon, setting in motion the Wheel of Dharma. 2nd century CE, Gandhara(Indian Museum, Kolkata)
Fig. 21: Worship of Dharma Chakra, symbol of the Buddha’s teaching, 2nd Century BCE, Satna, Madhya Pradesh (Indian Museum, Kolkata)

Fig. 22: Serene Amitabha Buddha seated in lalitasana (royal ease pose). 15th century CE, Japan  (National Museum, New Delhi)

Fig. 23: Important 6th-century inscription recording a maritime journey to the Malay Peninsula.
(Indian Museum, Kolkata)



The poignant moment of the Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana. 2nd century CE, Gandhara. (Indian Museum, Kolkata)
Fig. 24: A female devotee entering a Stupa for worship: 2nd Century BCE, Bharhut, Madhya Pradesh (National Museum, Delhi)
Fig. 25: Monks grieving beside the Buddha’s coffin, 1st – 4th Century CE, Gandhara (Indian Museum, Kolkata)
Fig. 26: An intricate plaque depicting the twelve key elements of Buddha’s life, including his birth, palace life, renunciation, asceticism, conquering Mara, and enlightenment; 18th Century CE, Tibet (National Museum, Delhi)

Fig. 27: A miniature votive stupa adorned with eight panels narrating key moments from the Buddha’s life. 10th century CE, Nalanda, Bihar. National Museum, New Delhi)

Fig. 28: Crowned Buddha in Earth-touching pose on a double-lotus pedestal, 11th Century CE, Nalanda, Bihar (National Museum, Delhi)
Fig. 29: The Buddha under the Bodhi Tree surrounded by the Eight Great Events of his life. 10th century CE, Nalanda, Bihar.(National Museum, New Delhi)
Fig. 30: Depiction of five major events — birth, renunciation, enlightenment, first sermon, and Mahaparinirvana. 5th century CE, Sarnath. (Indian Museum, Kolkata)
Fig. 31: Life of Buddha, painting by Arup Das, 20th Century (National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi)
Fig. 32: Thangka of Shakyamuni Buddha showing the twelve deeds (Recreation), 18th-20th Century CE (National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi)
Fig. 33: Prince Siddhartha proceeding to a school (lipishala), 2nd -3rd Centuries CE, Gandhara (National Museum, Delhi)
Fig. 34: Buddha descending from Heaven, accompanied by Brahma and Indra, 11th Century CE, Nalanda, Bihar (National Museum, Delhi)
Fig. 35: Buddha calming the mad elephant Nalagiri at Rajgriha, 11th Century CE, Nalanda, Bihar (National Museum, Delhi)
Fig. 36: Buddha radiating flames from his body, symbolizing divine power, 2nd Century CE, Gandhara, Kabul (Indian Museum, Kolkata)
Fig. 37: The monkey offering a honey bowl to Buddha at Vaishali, 10th Century CE, Bihar (Indian Museum, Kolkata)
Fig. 38: Prince Siddhartha leaving his palace on horseback (Mahabhinishkramana). 2nd century CE, Gandhara. (Indian Museum, Kolkata)
Fig. 39: Ancient stone coffer excavated from the Piprahwa stupa, containing sacred relics. 3rd century BCE. (Indian Museum, Kolkata)
Fig. 40: Celestial Dancer (returned from the USA), 11th Century CE, Madhya Pradesh (Archaeological Survey of India, Delhi)
Fig. 41: Devotees worshipping the three jewels: the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, 2nd Century CE, Gandhara (Indian Museum, Kolkata)
Fig. 42: Sacred Buddhapada (Buddha’s Footprint) with socket for an umbrella finial. 11th century CE, Bodhgaya. (Indian Museum, Kolkata)
Fig. 43: Buddha in gesture of fearlessness (abhayamudra), 5th Century CE, Madhya Pradesh (National Museum, Delhi)
Fig 44: Seated Buddha with serene expression and flowing drapery, 2nd Century CE, Gandhara (Indian Museum, Kolkata)
Fig 45: Myself

Hopefully when you visit the exhibition, and some of the museums where these artefacts are exhibited, this blog will help remind you to appreciate the artefacts in a little more detail.

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