ABSTRACT
Relics and the cult surrounding them constitute an importantpart of religious life among Tibetan populations. Indeed,they are essential to both the Buddhist and the Bon traditions. However, they have only been sparsely studied until now, and the few works dedicated to them have considered them mainly as the object of very elaborate classifications.1 Personally, I have tried to account for their place and function mainly among contemporary Tibetan communities established in exile. It has revealed that they occupy an essential position, enjoy a rich terminology, and enter a wide range of conceptions and uses. Unfortunately, many of these functions have not been given proper attention, probably because they are hardly mentioned in Tibetan literature. However, closer scrutiny reveals that they are of great value in the eyes of devotees.
