Relic Worship: History, Archaeology and Religion

Centre for Contemporary Indian Studies (CCIS), Pali and Buddhist Studies Unit/University of Colombo and Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies

Worship of the relics of the Buddha has been a widespread feature of Buddhist devotional practice since very early times. An exposition of the sacred Kapilavastu Relics of Lord Buddha will take place between August 19 to September 5 2012, under an agreement signed   between India and Sri Lanka. It would be the second time since their discovery 113 years ago the Sacred Kapilavastu Relics will travel to Sri Lanka from India’s National Museum situated in New Delhi.  The first Exposition of Sacred Relics in Sri Lanka was in 1978.  In connection with the exposition of sacred Kapilavastu relics in Sri Lanka, the Centre for Contemporary Indian Studies (CCIS) in collaboration with the Pali and Buddhist Studies Unit, University of Colombo is organizing a half-day symposium on Relic Worship: History, Archeology and Religion on 20^th August 2012 at the auditorium of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies, Colombo. This symposium will address central themes associated with the relics and relic worship from historical, archaeological and religious perspectives.  It will also provide insights to understand long-standing religious and cultural ties between India and Sri Lanka.