Golden Buddha Hair Relic Opened for Inspection: Drama Over 50 Baht Gold Ends with Gold Embedded in Cement
A golden Buddha hair relic suspected of being mostly brass was cut open to reveal gold pieces embedded in cement inside, clearing a craftsman who faced potential imprisonment over the missing precious metal in Thailand's Pathum Thani Provin
Golden Buddha Hair Relic Opened for Inspection: Drama Over 50 Baht Gold Ends with Gold Embedded in Cement—Craftsman Relieved to Find Gold Inside. May 4—A man brought a golden Buddha hair relic weighing nearly 50 baht for inspection after his family had collected 45 baht in gold to participate in a merit-making ceremony to cast the relic, with a local abbot and villagers contributing additional gold as well.
However, after 8 years passed, suspicions arose. When the golden relic was tested at a shop, the truth emerged: the nearly 50-baht golden relic turned out to be brass, with only 2-3% actual gold content remaining.
As a result, Phra Khru Pathumapunyabhassaipaithuraya Jaraban, 67, abbot of Wat Bunchuenchoo Temple in Pathum Thani Province, along with Nakorn Kanthoolis and disciples, filed a report with Deputy Investigation Officer Wuthinan Somsunant at Pak Khlong Rangsan Police Station in Pathum Thani, seeking both civil and criminal legal action until the case reached its conclusion.
Most recently, Phra Khru Pathumapunyabhassaipaithuraya and Phra Khru Prathip Thammo, abbot of Wat Dao Ruang Temple, along with craftsman Woraphon Chitthatham and temple committee members, held a meeting to find a solution regarding the missing gold from the Buddha hair relic. After Buddhist authorities approved an inspection, Woraphon used a steel cutting tool to slice open the relic crosswise, taking approximately 3 minutes. Upon opening it and removing the surrounding cement, gold pieces were discovered embedded inside at the end of the relic, bringing relief and joy to everyone involved.
With tears in his eyes, Woraphon stated that he had followed every detail of the news reports and was going mad because he had no idea what had happened to the relic over the past 10 years. He said he had been held responsible for whether gold existed inside or not, and if it didn't, he would face imprisonment—leaving his children's future uncertain. He expressed immense relief upon finding the gold was still there.
