The statue inside the casket behind me is not a figure made of wax but a real human corpse that was preserved. It’s the famous mummified Buddhist monk, Phra Khru Samathakittikhun.

The mummified monk is the main tourist attraction of Wat Khunaram (temple). This highly respected monk was preserved for public viewing when he died in 1973 and today still sits in a glass case, meditating. The monk is housed in a special gazebo and next to his remains you can read your fortune using ancient numerology sticks. Outside the gazebo you can pickup flowers and joss sticks that you can bring in and offer to the buddha. The temple itself is quite modern and located on the opposite side of the road from the Namuang Waterfalls not far from the Ban Hua Thanon fishing village. Entrance is free.

“PHRA KHRU SAMATHAKITTIKHUN (Dang Piyasilo), born 1894 & died 1973 was the venerable ex-abbot of Wat Khunaram on Koh Samui. A native of Koh Samui he enjoyed a prosperous family life until he was 50 years old when he decided to devote the after part of his life to the monkhood. After being ordained in 1944, he became renowned for his meditation practice and for about 20 years had many disciples among Buddhist monks and laymen. He was also known for his ability to foresee his own death, which happened in 1973 when he was 79 years and 8 months old.

After death, his body remained undecomposed, so his relatives and disciples decided to place his body in an upright position within the casket as requested in his written instruction, to keep it as a symbol to aspire future generations to follow Buddhist teachings and be saved from suffering.”

Source: The signboard outside the gazebo.

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