Ancient relics found inside Buddha statue in Russia

Vinay Shukla

Moscow, Oct 10 (PTI) Ancient relics, include a bone
fragment and hairs of an Indian Buddhist sage, were found
hidden inside a statue of Buddha on display in a regional
museum in Russia, a news report said on Saturday.

"The sensational discovery was made by Lama Bair-ool
Shirap during restoration work on one of the Buddha statue on
display in the National Museum of Kyzil, the capital of
Republic of Tuva," according to ITAR-TASS, the Russian news
agency.

The relics were discovered found hidden inside a
statue of Buddha during the course of restoration work in the
museum in Tuva, an internal republic of the Russian
Federation, which is predominantly Buddhist region in the east
of the country. Its capital Kyzil is situated right in the
geographical centre of Asia.

From a secret chamber inside the Buddha statue, relics
consisting of 17 objects and 23 fragments were found, which
include a bone fragment and hairs of Indian Buddhist sage
Naropa (Sanskrit name -Nadaprada) who lived between 1016-1100
and studied in monasteries of Kashmir and ancient Indian
Nalanda University.

Fragments of the dresses of supreme Buddhist leader of
Mongolia Bogdo-Gagan VIII (Devine Light) and 14th century
Tibetan Buddhist reformer Tsonkapa (Zong-ka-pa) have also been
found among the relics, probably hidden during the Communist
drive against religions after the Bolshevik revolution in
Russia.

It is believed that the Buddha statute with hidden
relics earlier belonged to a local feoff - Nayon or a senior
Lama.

Most of the relics were identified due to inscriptions
in Tibetan language, however, some of them need further study
as not all the inscriptions were readable.

Head of the local Buddhists Kambo-Lama said the
unearthed relics would be shown to the Dalai Lama and
incumbent Mongolian spiritual leader Bogdo-Gagan. PTI VS
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