Sotheby's in Hong Kong stopped selling some special jewels. This happened because India asked them to stop. India said the jewels were connected to Buddha.

The auction house said that the jewels for sale were found in northern India in 1898. They were found with the remains of the historical Buddha. The auction house said the jewels were from about 240 to 200 BC.

But India's Ministry of Culture said on Facebook on Tuesday that they sent a legal letter to Sotheby's Hong Kong. They told them to stop the sale right away. They said the sale broke "Indian laws, international rules, and UN agreements."

In a letter to Sotheby’s Hong Kong, the group said the objects are important Buddhist items that belong to India and all Buddhists. They asked for the objects to be sent back to the Indian government and for Sotheby’s and Chris Peppé to say sorry.

Peppé is the great-grandson of William Peppé. William Peppé was British, and he found the relics by digging.

The Indian government sent a letter saying that if they didn't follow the rules, they would go to court. They also said people would protest and show how the auction house helped continue unfairness from the past and was part of selling religious items in a wrong way.

Sotheby's said on Wednesday that they were delaying the event. They said they understood the things the Indian government talked about, and that the people selling the items agreed to the delay.

"This will help the groups talk to each other, and we will tell you if there is any news," it said.

Some pages on the Sotheby's website about the sale were not there on Wednesday.

India's culture ministry said on Facebook on Wednesday that they were happy the auction was stopped because they helped.