Underscoring a shared Buddhist heritage, the holy relics of the Buddha’s chief disciples, Arahant Sariputta and Arahant Mahamoggallana, have reached Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The relics, considered equivalent to the Head of State in terms of protocol and security, were brought by a special Indian Air Force flight from New Delhi. This arrival marks a 10-day public exposition at the Gandan Tegchenling Monastery in honor of Mongolian Buddha Purnima.
The delegation accompanying the relics includes Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya and other dignitaries from India and Sri Lanka. The International Buddhist Confederation is actively participating in organizing this significant event. The relics were brought to Mongolia at the request of the Gandan Tegchenling Monastery by the Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka and the National Museum of India.
India and Mongolia, described as strategic partners and spiritual siblings due to their deep Buddhist connections, view this exposition as an opportunity for Mongolian Buddhists to pay homage to these revered relics. The Indian Embassy in Ulaanbaatar emphasized the importance of this event in strengthening the spiritual bond between the two nations. The exposition, starting on May 31 and lasting until June 10, was announced during the State Visit of Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa to India in 2025.
The relics of Arahant Sariputta and Arahant Mahamoggallana hold significance as carriers of the Buddha’s teachings and pillars of the early Sangha. Celebrated for their wisdom and spiritual mastery, these chief disciples were born on the same day in adjacent villages in the Magadha region. The relics’ journey to Mongolia, following a similar exposition in Thailand in 2024, underscores the special importance of this event. The Indian Embassy highlighted the successful and memorable nature of the previous exposition of Lord Buddha’s relics in Mongolia in 2022.
