Golden Buddha statues found

Golden Buddha statues found

PURWOKERTO, Central Java: Villagers in Cikakak, Wangon
subdistrict in Banyumas regency, yesterday found two 15-
centimeter-tall golden Buddha statues weighing 1.5 kilograms.

The finding was not an accident.

Michayat, a local prayer leader from the ancient Saka Tunggal
mosque in the village, told The Jakarta Post that he received a
premonition about the existence of the statues which were buried
in the forest about 200 meters from the mosque.

He instructed villagers to search for the items and after 40
days of continuous digging, the statues were unearthed.

The statues were buried 2.5 meters underground along with four
golden crowns and three golden coins 10 centimeters in diameter.

Michayat believes the artifacts could be as old as the mosque,
which was built in 1205.

He said the quest was a tiring exercise and that it almost
ended in failure as villagers digging for the items began to tire
and doubt Michayat's vision after three weeks.

The religious leader claims his premonitions tell him that
there are still two more statues buried somewhere in the
vicinity. One of the statues, he said, is 75 centimeters in
length.

The artifacts are currently being kept at Michayat's house.

He said he would keep them for the benefit of Cikakak's
villagers, and would not allow any government officials to
confiscate them. (45)