Question : RELICS OF GAUTAM BUDDHA

:

(a) whether the famous holy begging bowl (BhikshaPatra) of Lord Buddha presented to Vaishali for his Mahaparinirwana after his last varshavas has been found in the Kabul Museum;

(b) if so, whether the report published by the first Director General of the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has revealed that this begging bowl belongs to Vaishali;

(c) if so, whether it has been described and confirmed in the travelogues of Fa-Hien and Huen-T-Sang;

(d) if so, whether the scholars from Patna, Delhi, Banaras Hindu University and JNU University have also confirmed it;

(e) if so, the time by which the experts are likely to be sent there for verification; and

(f) whether historical and archaeological proofs have been sent to the Ministry of External Affairs and if so, the details and outcome thereof ?

MINISTER OF CULTURE (SHRIMATICHANDRESH KUMARI KATOCH)

(a) Yes, Madam. The bowl (BhikshaPatra) said to be of Lord Buddha is presently displayed in the National Museum at Kabul (Afghanistan).

(b)to(e)The inscriptions on the bowl have been examined by the Archaeological Survey of India, Epigraphy Branch, Nagpur and found that the inscription are ascribable to circa 16th Century A.D in Nastalique (Persian). It is not possible to hold a view purely based on the information provided in several reports and travel accounts unless it is substantiated with factual archaeological evidence. To ascertain its provenance and authenticity, it is being considered to depute a team of two officers from ASI to Kabul, Afghanistan.

(f) Yes, Madam. Historical and archaeological information has been sent to Ministry of External Affairs.