Sotheby’s stopped selling jewels linked to Buddha’s remains after the Indian government said they were against the sale and wanted it to stop.

The auction house said that the valuable stones being sold were found in northern India in 1898. They were buried together in special boxes with the bones of the historical Buddha and are from around 240-200 BC.

But India’s Ministry of Culture said on Facebook that it had sent a legal notice to Sotheby’s Hong Kong. They asked them to stop the sale immediately, saying it broke Indian laws and international rules.

In a letter sent to Sotheby’s Hong Kong on Monday and put on Facebook, they said the auction includes important Buddhist items. They explained that these items are a key part of the religious and cultural history of India and all Buddhists around the world and should be returned. They asked for these items to be sent back to the Indian government and for Sotheby's and Chris Peppé to say sorry publicly.

Peppé is the great-grandson of William Peppé, a British man who found the relics.

In the letter, the Indian government warned that if they didn't follow the rules, they would face legal action and public campaigns. These campaigns would show how the auction house was helping to continue colonial injustice and was involved in selling religious items in a wrong way.

Sotheby's announced on Wednesday that they have postponed the auction because of the issues raised by the Indian government. They also said that the people selling the items agreed to this.

This will allow the parties to talk, and we will share updates when it is right to do so.

On Wednesday, some pages on Sotheby's website about the auction could not be found.

India's Ministry of Culture announced on Facebook Wednesday that they were happy to say the auction was delayed because they got involved.