A Buddhist monk was stabbed in the head during a bizarre exorcism ‘to expel an evil spirit’ in Thailand.

The surreal footage shows how the ritual unfolded, with exorcist Ajahn Khun Kawee Seesayam taking what appeared to be a dagger and apparently jamming the blade into monk Phra Akhhom Abhidhammamo's scalp in Ratchaburi province on March 26

The monk then seemed to be in a trance and let out jarring yelps of agony and high-pitched cries before calming down as the spirit allegedly left his body.

However, Akhom drew flak from locals as it was deemed ‘unbecoming for holy men’ to consult shamans with different beliefs.

He said: 'I am sad that many people see me as a bad monk. I regret the unseemly screaming that I did. The pain in my leg was worsening.

'In the past, I tried to find a cure for my leg pain. I've gone to the hospital to see a doctor, taken all the prescribed medicine and drugs, but the pain didn't go away.'

Akhom also claimed a force compelled him to cry out during the ceremony, saying: 'There was pain all over my body. It was as if something inside forced me to cry especially when the exorcist held the blade to my feet.'

Following the exorcism, 68-year-old monk at the Wat Pa Ket Hong Wanaram temple, was allegedly expelled for consulting with the shaman - superstitious behaviour believed to be unbecoming of holy men. He now lives in the Wat Ban Pa Rai temple in Sisaket Province some 400 miles away from his original station.

Meanwhile, exorcist Khun Kawee said he was shocked upon learning that the monk had been asked to move away from the temple. He said: 'In the past, I have performed ceremonies to help various people, even about six to seven monks and nuns. But no one has ever been expelled from the temple. It was all done with good intentions.'