“The Black Buddha Statue”

The Black Buddha is a sacred Buddha statue located in the city of Nalanda, Rajgir, India. It is the only Buddha statue that survived from the destruction carried out by the Muslim Turk (Turkish) army in 1223 BE. This statue is carved from black granite, featuring a seated Buddha in meditation posture. Its lap width measures 60 inches, and its height from the base to the top of the lotus-bud-shaped (cranial protuberance) is 69 inches. The statue is adorned with the 32 marks of a great man (Mahapurisa) and 80 minor characteristics, reflecting the beauty and perfection described in the Buddhist scriptures (Tipitaka).

The Indian people hold profound respect and faith in the sacredness of the Black Buddha. They believe that when their children fall ill, they can anoint the statue with oil, then use a cloth to wipe the oil from the statue and apply it to the body of the sick individual, which is believed to restore their health. This belief has been passed down through generations and continues to the present day.

The Black Buddha Statue at Hatyai Sitaram Temple

The Black Buddha statue was created based on the vision of a group of senior Buddhist monks, including His Holiness Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, the Supreme Patriarch, together with a group of followers. Their intention was to establish Black Buddha statues in all four regions of Thailand. A total of five statues were made, with one statue designated for each region, and the last statue left will be placed abroad. For the southern region, the statue is enshrined at Hatyai Sitaram Temple (or called “Somdet temple”) in Songkhla Province.

The creation of the Black Buddha statue was intended to promote unity and peace in the places where the statues are enshrined. At the time of its creation, Thailand was experiencing ideological divisions that led to national turmoil. Therefore, the Black Buddha was crafted with great care to reflect the beauty and perfection described in the Buddhist scriptures (Tipitaka).

Following its creation, His Holiness Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, the Supreme Patriarch, along with His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), reviewed and refined the statue until it was perfected. Today, the statue stands in its magnificent form at Hatyai Sitaram Temple, serving as a symbol of harmony and tranquility.

After the construction of the Black Buddha statue was completed, the next step was to find a suitable location for its enshrinement. Phra Phrom Vajirasuthi, the abbot of the Phra Ram 9 Kanchanaphisek temple in Bangkok, contacted Phra Rachpariyattithada (Somphot  Kiccasro) of Hatyai Sitaram temple to propose placing the statue at the temple. Phra Rachpariyattithada responded with deep respect and acceptance, saying, “I humbly accept the honor.” When asked about the statue's size, the abbot of Phra Ram 9 temple replied, “It is the same size as the Black Buddha statue in Nalanda, India, as the design was modeled after it.”

When the Black Buddha statue arrived at Hatyai Sitaram temple, the abbot of the temple was having his morning meal and hearing the sound of the truck delivering the statue. He looked outside but could not see the vehicle, instead, he saw only the image of the Black Buddha seemingly floating above the treetops. This sight filled him with profound joy and a deep sense of spiritual fulfillment. (When recounting this story, the revered monk continued to radiate happiness and laughter from the memory.)

Once the statue was fully enshrined, large numbers of Buddhist devotees came to pay homage and seek blessings. For those facing life challenges, the senior monk would advise them to set their intentions, make their supplications to the Black Buddha statue, and engage in prayer, chanting, and meditation. Many reported finding solutions to long-standing problems and achieving relief from emotional burdens.

Faith in the Black Buddha has since spread widely among devotees and remains unwavering until this day.