HONG KONG (AP) — Sotheby's has postponed an auction of jewels purportedly linked to Buddha's remains following the Indian government's objection and demand to stop the sale.

The auction house announced that the valuable stones, which were found buried with the body parts of the historical Buddha in special containers in northern India in 1898, would be sold at auction. It also said that they are thought to be from about 240-200 BC.

However, the Indian Ministry of Culture announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that it had issued a legal directive to Sotheby's Hong Kong, demanding the immediate cessation of the auction, alleging that the sale contravened "Indian legislation, international standards, and UN conventions."

In a letter sent to Sotheby's Hong Kong on Monday, which was shared on Facebook, the group stated that the auction included holy Buddhist items. They said these items are a very important part of the religious and cultural history of India and Buddhists around the world. The group asked for the items to be sent back to the Indian government and for the auction house and Chris Peppé to say sorry publicly.

Peppé is a descendant of the British William Peppé, the individual who unearthed the relics.

The Indian government warned in the letter that if they did not follow the rules, there would be legal action and public campaigns to show how the auction house was involved in continuing colonial unfairness and taking part in the wrong sale of religious items.

Sotheby's confirmed the postponement in a statement issued on Wednesday, taking into account the issues brought forward by the Indian government and stating that this decision was made in collaboration with the consignors.

This will facilitate discussions between the parties, and we anticipate sharing any updates as appropriate.

As of Wednesday, some of Sotheby’s webpages detailing the auction were no longer accessible.

The Indian Ministry of Culture announced on Facebook on Wednesday that it was "pleased to inform" the public that the auction had been postponed following its intervention.