Three Sacred Statues Found Outside Shrine in Mysterious Circumstances; Suspected Antique Thieves Abandoned Them After Encountering Something Eerie
Three sacred statues disappeared from Phra Prasat Thong shrine in Buriram province and were mysteriously moved to the shrine's rear undamaged, with locals suspecting antique thieves abandoned them after encountering something unexplainable.
May 1 – Monks and residents in Chalermphra Kiart District, Buriram province, were startled when a group of devotees visiting Phra Prasat Thong shrine on Phanom Ruang mountain discovered the three sacred statues that normally reside inside the shrine had vanished.
Upon investigating the surrounding area, they found all three statues had been moved to the rear of the shrine without any signs of damage. However, the identity of those responsible and their motives remain unknown.
Some speculate the statues were targeted by an antique theft gang for sale, but they may have abandoned them after encountering something inexplicable. Others theorize they were moved by individuals acting on certain beliefs.
Phra Maha Damrong Tikkaviriyo, abbot of Wat Don Maihai, revealed that upon learning of the displacement, monks and devotees relocated the three statues to a residence within the temple. This precaution was taken ahead of the upcoming annual merit-making ceremony for Phra Prasat Thong.
Wivat Saokul, 29, and Thanyadhorn Benchasart, 29, members of the Phra Prasat Thong devotion team who constructed the shrine before last year's merit ceremony, explained that the three statues had been with the original deity for years. The original statue disappeared in 2554 (2011) during an incident, and this replacement was commissioned as an offering. They expressed unease about the statues' disappearance, having come to pay respects and share a meal at the shrine. Upon discovering the statues relocated and arranged neatly behind the shrine, they felt relieved. They believe the deity may have communicated through their intuition, though they remain uncertain whether thieves or someone else moved the statues and returned them.
