(a) whether the Bhikshapatra given by Lord Buddha to Vaishali has
been kept in Kabul in a Museum;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has sought information from Archaeological
Survey of India about the historic and archaeological proof of the origin
of Bhikshapatra of Lord Buddha; and
(d) if so, the action taken by the Government to find out
about the origin of Bhikshapatra of Lord Buddha?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SMT. PRENEET KAUR)
(a) & (b) A large stone bowl, approximately 1 metre in height, 1 metre in
diameter, with a thickness of about 18 cms at the top, and weighing around
200-300 kgs with verses from the Qoran in calligraphic script running
horizontally along its rim in Arabic and Persian, is presently located
at the entrance of the National Museum of Afghanistan in Kabul. It was
originally located in Kandahar from where it was moved to Kabul during
the regime of former Afghan President Dr. Najibullah. The bowl is
purported to be the Bhikshapatra of Lord Buddha.
(c) & (d) Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has conveyed that they
are getting the photograph of the bowl examined by experts. They have
further conveyed that from preliminary observation the object does not
appear to be Lord Buddha`s begging bowl. Embassy of India, is also making
further enquiries in the matter so as to ascertain the provenance of
the bowl from the Afghan authorities.