The return of a portion of the Buddha's relics from a private collection highlights Buddhism's deep Indian roots and its global influence over 2,000 years. Originating in the Gangetic plains, Buddhist ideology spread worldwide, impacting regions from the Greco-Roman world to East Asia. The Buddha, born Prince Siddhartha, died around 428 BCE in Kushinagar, leading to a division of his remains among eight principalities, including his Shakya clan, who enshrined them in Kapilavastu.