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)