July 05, 2026 02:47 pm (IST)
Follow us:
PM Modi gifts replicas of stone casket of Buddhist relics to Jinping
Xi'an, China, May 14 (IBNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday presented Chinese President Xi Jinping replicas of a stone casket of Buddhist relics and a stone statue of Buddha that were excavated from a 3rd-4th century AD stupa at Dev-ni-Mori-a site 80 kms east of Vadnagar in Gujarat-in 1957.
In addition, the Prime Minister presented archaeological drawings of excavations at Vadnagar which was one of the places visited by the great Chinese traveller Xuanzang – also known as Hieun Tsang – around 641 AD.
The site is referred to as Anandpur in Xuanzang’s writings and recent excavations point to the existence of a thriving Buddhist centre at Vadnagar way back in 2nd century AD.
The Prime Minister, who is on a three-day trip to China, visited the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda on earlier in the day where Xuanzang worked for years to translate the sutras that he brought to China from India.
Recent excavations at Vadnagar have revealed a burnt brick structure that has been identified as a Buddhist monastery on the basis of its peculiar plan and the antiquities recovered from it, which include a red sandstone broken head of Buddha, stylistically datable to 2nd century AD, a votive tablet with foot impression, and a crescent-shaped stone tray depicting the scene of a monkey offering honey to Buddha.
In his writings, Xuanzang had recorded that there were more than 1000 monks of the Sammitiya School or Little Vehicle in ten monasteries at Vadnagar, suggesting that Vadnagar was an important centre of Buddhist learning in western India during that period. In ancient times, Vadnagar was situated at a strategic location where two major ancient trade routes crossed each other.
One of them was from central India to Sindh and to further northwest whiles the other from the port towns on the Gujarat coast to Rajasthan and north India. Therefore, it could have been a city of ample opportunities until these routes remained vibrant.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
Govt cracks down on Meta over Instagram ads linked to child sexual abuse content: Report
Sun, Jul 05 2026
Ayodhya Ram Temple donation scam deepens with ₹15 lakh money trail, cash gifts under scanner
Sun, Jul 05 2026
2 Lashkar terrorists trapped in Shopian orchard as massive counter-terror op enters second day
Sun, Jul 05 2026
Another blow for Mamata: Bengal TMC president Chandrima Bhattacharya quits, meets rebel camp
Sat, Jul 04 2026
What is UDAN Scheme? PM Modi launches next phase in Jodhpur
Sat, Jul 04 2026
Centre designates 23 individuals as terrorists. List includes 17 Pakistanis, 6 Indians
Sat, Jul 04 2026
After Ram Mandir row, Badrinath Temple faces fund embezzlement allegations; probe ordered
Sat, Jul 04 2026
Kolkata's Posta Market goes on indefinite strike after trade leader slapped; shutdown ends after 4 arrests
Sat, Jul 04 2026