Sak Yant - สักยันต์  - Buddhist Temple Tattoos

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Wat Bang Pra Temple

Sak Yant/Sakyan

is the Thai name for the Tattooing of Sacred geometrical designs on the skin. Yant (or Yantra, as we call them in the west), are normally tattooed by Buddhist monks, or Brahmin Holy men . The Yant tattoos have developed over the centuries under the influence of several different things

1. The Yantra designs that already existed in Hindu India were adapted by the Thais as Buddhism arrived from neighbouring India.
2. The wars of the Kingdom in the past - especially during times of King Somdej Pranaresworn maharaj the warriors relied on yant magic for protection in Battle.
3. The Khmers influenced the lettering of the Yant, their form of Sanskrit being famous for its magical powers - the Khmer were extremely feared by the Thais for their powerful magic spells.
4. Local beliefs and customs causing adaptations for local necessities.
   
   
   

What is a Yant

A Yant is a Sacred Geometrical design.Sacred Geometry has existed in countles forms, and is to be found to have been used in most Advanced Ancient Cultures of Human History.

A "Sakyant" tattoo is the general way that a "Farang" (westerners are referred to as such in Thailand), uses when referring to one of these Sacred Buddhist Yantra tattoos: this is actually wrong, because the tattoo simply called a "Yant (ยันต์)" in Thai. So, when going for Sak Yant from one's master, one should not say "I'm going to get another sakyan tattoo"!. One should say; "I am going to recieve another Yant.

Inspired by the Great Master Hlwong Por Phern and the Tattooist Monks of Wat bang Pra temple in Thailand.

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How did the Yant come to exist?

• Legend has it, that the Father of Yant magic were the 'Ruesi'; a kind of hermit/sorceror, living in the depths of the forest,Studying spells and practising their magic. These Ruesi existed a long time before Buddhism existed. They are often mentioned in the Thai Ramakiarn (a version of the Hindu Ramayana Epic Myth), and are usually depicted holding a black slate and chalk, with a Yant design inscribed on the slate. The Ruesii wore long hats; and normally had long wispy beards.There are so many Ruesi stories, such as the ones told in the 'Hnang Thalung' shadow puppet theatre in Southern Thailand.Kings, Emperors and Political leaders normally had a Ruesi as their advisor, rather like the Court magician in Mediaeval times here in the Western world The Ruesii was also responsible for creating the Magic Book of power so treasured by the Hindu Gods, known as Thrai Paet, or Thrai Waet; meaning Three Sciences, or Three Magics. This book was the theme for several stories in the Ramakiarn Epic.
• Neighbouring Khmer (Cambodia), has always had a reputation for it’s Shamanistic magic and Sorcery. The use of Magic Yantras, and Sacred Alphabet to write them with (Known as “Khom Agkara”) has been common with the Khmer race for thousands of years.
• Local belief in Nature Spirits, Animism and other sub-belief systems have been also incorporated into the Pantheon of yant designs that exist in the Thai Tradition to date.
• The Tradition in Ancient Thailand that Warriors be tattooed in order to make their bodies slippery and hard to grab in battle has caused many Yant tattoo designs to be developed that are intended to protect against penetrative weapons (such as guns, knives etc). Thais believed that if you are covered with yant tattoos, it will make your skin slippery and hard to penetrate with a sharp weapon.

The Yant tattoos are worn by people from all levels of Thai society, from Thieves, Asassins and highwaymen, right up to the level of Important Politicians, Police commissioners, Judges and Civil servants.
Currently the Ancient Art of Sak Yant is in danger of disappearing, despite a revival in the Youth Culture, due to a Yant related film released a couple of years ago (“Maha Ud”), which caused a whole class of schoolboys to travel to a Temple, where they received the Yant tattoo called Maha Ud (renowned to be able to stop a bullet),from a Monk there.

There are many “Samnak Ajarn Sak Yant” สำนักสักยันต์ (Yant Tattooist/Masters offices) in Thailand still, but the most famous of these as far as Foreigners are concerned, is the Tample of Wat Bang Pra in Thambon Bang Gaew Fa on the outskirts of Nakorn Chaysri town, Nakorn Phatom Province, near Bangkok.

This is where Spencer approached the monk Hlwong Pi Pant, tattooist Monk, apprenticed to the most famous Yantmaster of all time (deceased 2004), Hlwong Por Phern Tittakunoe (Officially known as Pra Udom Prachaanaat.

Spencer is a Buddhist and Tattooist who has made Thailand his home, and has been visiting Wat Bang Pra Temple as a disciple of Buddhism , but also with extreme interest from the Tattooists point of view.”I stumbled upon this Temple in a time of great sadness in my life, I approached my teacher Hlwong Pi Pant at first as a disciple of Buddhism, but was surprised to see that this monk was applying a tattoo to another monk as I arrived there!” “What were these strange designs, and the strange script that was tattooed around the main designs, that were so harmoniously arranged in a strictly defined composition…all elements of these extremely simple, but overwhelmingly powerful symbols flowing together with Supreme harmony?”

“I received one of the Yant tattoos from my Master ; This first tattoo I recieved was Yant Gao Yord (see foto).
Gao Yord means Nine Peaks, and represents the Nine Peaks Mount Meru; sacred mountain in the centre of the Universe, with the four Continents around it.

Before the Yant was applied I paid my respects (Hwai Kru gaeji Ajarn) by bowing to the floor 3 times, palms placed before my forehead between each bow. Then all present grab each other around the waist and I offer the silver tray with all our offerings of ; Orchids, Incense, cigarettes, money in envelopes, and anything else you may wish to offer.” “Hlwong Pi Pant proceeded to chant a “Kataa” (Mantra) in Pali Sanskrit (the language the Buddha used to teach his Dharma).

After this, he prepares to take one of the many “Mai Sak”(tattooing sticks), from a bottle of alcohol which served as disinfection for the 20 or so instruments in bottles at his side. I have counted an average of between 30 and 70 tattoos in one day done by the Master!!!, so this would mean maybe an hour at the most for an instrument to be in the alcohol bottle.

Then I was told to sit in front of the Hlwong Pi Pant, with my back to him. The Master takes his “Mai Sak” and places a color cap between his little finger and ring finger. He then proceeds to draw a grid on my neck, with squares inside it, and nine buddhas on top of each box. Each box contains a letter in Ancient “Khom”. Khom is the alphabet used to write the Holy Buddhist Prayers in the skin as a tattoo. The language is not Thai, it is Pali Sanskrit; But the Lettering is Ancient Khmer, or Khom, as the Thais call it. The Yant I received is called Gao Yord, and means Nine Peaks (gipfel) meaning the peaks of Mount Meru (sacred mountain in the centre of Buddha Realm).”

“On completion of the Tattoo, Hlwong Pi Pant chants a Kataa, and blows it into my Yant, the room is silent, and a feeling of well-being and peace rises inside me.” “The mantra says Gu Ti Gu Ya Tha Saa Wae Taa Saa Gu, and is not a phrase as such, rather use of syllables to represent certain elements involved with Buddha magic.” “I became so involved with this Topic, that I finally asked Hlwong Pi Pant if I could learn about this,” “being a Buddhist and also Tattooist had given me the idea that this may be something I could learn about.”

“Hlwong Pi Pant was ok on this, but seemed sceptical that I could do it, my Thai was not so good back then, and so he said I should ask again when my Thai was better.” “In the meantime, I managed to find an extremely rare book, called Yant 108, written by a former Head of the Thailand Brahmin Order; Pra Ratchakru Taepawamuni.”

	Mongkol Soeros is the new website of Ajarn Noo Ganpai
Pra Ratchakru Taepawamunii Author of 108 Yant Pitsadarn	Please support spencer's new informational web project about Koh lanta island in Thailand's andaman Sea www.kohlantakolanta.com by visiting the site. It's still growing as Spencer edits and adds new content, so please be patient as the site grows

“Whilst studying Thai reading and writing, and learning about how to draw, and invoke the 108 Yant designs from this gem of a Literary work, I was introduced into the methods for reading Khom letters too, as the Yant 108 book teaches it as the first necessary step to be able to make yant designs according to the traditional methods.”

“Each yant has it’s own particular Mantra Prayer, and there are strict rules about ?the way you draw each Yant. For example, when inscribing a Yant on Parchment, or Cloth, you may not lift the writing instrument from the surface whilst drawing the outline..it must all be done with a continuous line!”

“How is this possible? Well most of the yant make this possible through the use of knot work like loops for directional changes in the outline.So it is possible to draw the whole design in one throw, ending where you began, without having lifted your pen from the paper.”

“As for the Hand Tattooing of Yant in Thai Temples ; The Tattooing method does not permit the continuous tattooing without lifting the instrument of course, so this rule is obviously not applied as far as Tattooing of Yant is concerned.”

Yant Tattoo Design Composition

Most Backpiece tattoos are composed in a similar manner, as far as the composition is concerned; A typical composition would be; Gao Yord on the Neck, Jii sip Yord on the shoulder tops, Yant Ngop Nam Oy on each shoulder blade, Yant Nok Sariga  Ku (pair of paradise birds).On the spine between those. Below that is Yant Paed Tidt, then Hongs (Swans), under each of the shoulder blades, Yant Suea Maha Amnaaj (Imperial Tiger) in climbing posture below the Hongs, one on each side. In the lower middle of the back, one may see the image of Hanuman, the monkey General of Rama's army in the Hindu Ramayana Epic. Hanuman is tattooed here more often than Dam Due (image coming soon). There are many different Hanuman designs which one can tattoo, but the one used generally is 'Hanuman 4 Gorn' (four armed hanuman) or 'Hanuman Haw pen Daw pen Duean' (Hanuman Yawning at the moon). Underneath this, normally, is the famous Suea Paen (Leaping Tiger) Leaping Tiger was often also tattooed on the chest by highwaymen and Bandits to ward off bullets, and give them power in times of self defence.Each Animal, or Yant tattoo, has it's own heart Mantra, which is said to be the cause of the Khong Khuen (animal Spirit posession). If you read the Agkara Lettering within the boxes, it says; Gu Ti Gu Ya Tha Saa Wae Taa Saa Gu:- From top to bottom and left to right; Once in the Left hand half, and once in mirror script on the right hand side. Kaataa (Agkara) within the two back-cover Yant (the magic squares)read as follows; (Left Square) Na Ma Na ANor Gor Na GaGor Or Nor ANa A Ga Ang (Right Square) Gu Ru Su GuRu Su Gu GuSu Gu Gu RuGu Gu Ru Su GAO YORD The nine Spikes in the middle on the nape of his neck, are called Yant Gao Yord ( Nine Spires Yanthra), Yanthra, or Yant, in Thai language, means a geometrical design with magical Powers to protect it's wearer.The Nine Spires are actually Nine Buddhas with Nine sacred "Unaloem" (the squiggly spiral that shoots straight upwards above the Buddhas head. The buddha representation (of three oval shapes , one above the other), is called "Ongk Pra" (Monk Body). The Mantra, or Kaataa, in Thai for this Onk Pra image has it's own particular mantra; Siisa Puttaa Pha Na Chaayathae Ongka Puttaa Pha Na Chaayathae, Phaata Puttaa Pha Na Chaayathae. (although contained within the general Yant design, it is also a stand alone Yant in itself, and can be tattooed on its own).The Nine Buddhas are located above a four-storied Tiered Box design.The Box design contains Twenty Boxes.There is an arrow pointing upwards to the sky, with the ninth, topmost Buddha above it. This arrow splits the yant into two mirroed halves.Each half contains the same mantra, one forwards, and one backwards. The mantra reads; Gu Ti Gu Ya Tha Saa Wae Taa Saa Gu - Gu Gu Ti Saa Tha Ya Gu Saa Taa Wae. Or even Gu Gu Ti Gu Gu TiYa Tha Saa Saa Tha Ya - Wae Taa Saa Gu Gu Saa Taa Wae. The mantra is composed in Khom (a version of Pali sanskrit in ancient cambodia, conbsidered to be sacred by Buddhist monks in Thailand).The main undertone is Buddhist but the roots of this ancient Craft has recieved influences from many other Folk religions and spirit worshippers, sorcery and Buddhism mixed together. This Craft of sacred Buddhist tattooing is chiefly practised in Thailand and ฉambodia, but is also to be found on a lesser scale in Burma (Myanmar) and laos. The twenty spires often seen added on the left and right shoulders are an extension to increase the protection. Called Jii Sib Yord ( twenty spires).

Gao Yord (Nine peaks tattoo) Made by Hlwong Pi Pant Wad Bang Pra Temple.

Master Day

On Master day, you can observe this phenomenon occur in great numbers of people. When the Master chants the heart Mantra of Crocodile, for example.. many people will start writhing around on the floor like a crocodile does, and making growling noises.

The Leaping Tiger Mantra will cause people to rear up on their hind legs, hands outstretched before them, clawing at the air and roaring like a tiger! Each animal has it's own way of appearing, and if you are familiar with the different actions a person in trance performs when posessed by an animal, it is possible to recognize which animal he is posessed with. What makes this phenomenon hard to explain, is the fact that when the master chants the heart mantra of each animal Yant, it is not in Thai language, rather Pali Sanskrit! This means that the disciples in the crowd have no way of knowing which Mantra of which animal the Master is chanting. Nevertheless when 10 people hear the heart mantra and turn into a Tiger , you will be able to see afterwards that all ten of them have the tiger tattooed on them. A devotee with a crocodile will not turn into a tiger, and vice versa.

The different tattoing instruments used in Sak Yant are ;

1. In Ancient times, one would use a very hard, sharp pointed Rattan tree thorn, which are very long upto three feet in length.
2. Some monks would use the spoke of an umbrella, filed down to a sharp point. In days of old, coffin nails were taken from a cremation and fitted to the tattooing instrument and sharpened. Monks would chant magic spells and blow them into the tattooing instrument; this kind of instrument is considered to be extremely powerful.
3. The preparation of the inks are different in every Temple, and with every Master. Some Masters stick to the old methods, and may make the black pigment from the sap of a rare tree that is found in the North east, close to Laos and Cambodia.
4. Old masters may mix snake venom in the Ink.
5. Others take the Common Chinese ink, mixed with whisky and aromatic oils.
6. Some traditions mixed in ash from the cremation of a High Master / Monk.All sorts of variations were possible, and there seems to be no real fixed method.
7. The kind of instrument used currently at Wat Bang Pra is a plain stainless steel “Javelin” like spike, split at the tip into two sharp points. This kind of double point instrument is called “Bpag Chalaam”, meaning sharks mouth. It looks kind of like the nib of a fountain pen, and has the two points bend together to almost touch each other. This causes the tip to hold a bubble of ink in its mouth, thus superior to a single point spike.

Gao Yord Yant ยันต์๙ยอด	ยันต์พระเจ้า๑๖พระองค์ 16 Buddhas Yant	Yant Ongk Pra ยันต์องค์พระ	์ยันต์จักรนารายณ์น้อย Wheel of Vishnu Yant

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Yant are not only applied as tattoos, but also on many other kinds of medium, such as cloth, inscribed on the back of metal templates to be used as protective amulets in the home, temple, car etc. Another popular form of wearing Yant Magic, is to use 'Thagrud', meaning the Yant is applied onto a parchment, rolled up into a scroll, and then fed into a metal tube, or sometimes wrapped in the skin taken from the forehead of a Tiger. The Thagrud is then ties to a cord and wrapped around the waist.

Visitors to Thai Temples may have seen men wearing a whole chain of these Thagrud wrapped around the waist. Some people wear a whole chain of Phallic (Penis) images tied around them too _ this is similar to the 'Shiva Lingam' representing the Phallic masculine force.There is also a Yant tattoo that includes a Penis and testicles, with drops of semen ejecting; this design is not particularly Buddhist, but as i said already, the Yant Tattoo tradition is an amalgamation of many beliefs and superstitions.

Also the Yant are maybe to be seen most often on the back of Thai Monk amulets, something which many of us who have been to Thailand have either bought as a memento, or recieved as a gift. I recieve much mail from visitors to my website and forum; www.sakyant.com, asking me to translate and explain the yant on their monk coins..also to analyze their Yant tattoos.

At first i did this eagerly, but as the website grew, i started recieving too many requests, and it became a full time job. I still design Yant tattoos for people who want a special yant making for them for a small donation.

All Yant have their own particular design methods and meanings; Each yant has a Prayer (Kataa) which should accompany it, and a 'Heart Mantra'. Yant Tattoos have a strict application method, which must be learned, it is not enough to just tattoo the design on AND THAT'S IT'!

The tattooist must concentrate extremely to make the tattoo, due to the fact he must write in Khom (ancient Khmer sanskrit) whilst he is silently saying a mantra, which changes whith each new element of the design (Bones, Knots, Letters, Buddhas etc).

Onk Pra represents The Buddha Himself. The Half Moon Symbol to be seen above 'Onk Pra' so often represents the Moon Illuminating the way for us in the Dark Hours. The small Circle (Sun Symbol) to be seen above many Yant means the Sun lighting our way in the daytime; and that all Humans and Living beings exist under the influences of the stars and Planets, and that these forces enable us to develop and brings Changes. The Zig - Zag spiral line on the top of eaxh Yant is called Unaalome. Unaalome represents the Saints who have attained the status of Enlightened beings.The Fetters of desire have been disentangled and discarded.... These beings do not waver on their path as normal Humans do (Note the end of the zig zag evolves into a straight line, meaning that he has ceased to enter into diversion and is on a straight, direct path to Nirvana. The spiral in the middle represents the Crown of the Head of the Buddha. The Line of the Unaalome is straigh and unwavering - Perfect and complete. Following this thought, when you have finished the drawing the 'Bones' (outlines) of the Yant and finished all Khom letterings; The Yant should be Finished with the drawing of Unaalome above the Yant - meaning that the Yant is now Complete. All Yant are usually completed with the invocation of a Mantra (Pra Kataa) in Pali sanskrit, which is subsequently blown into the yant with your breath (Called Phao kataa / Puug Saeg). Most Pra Kataa finish with the Phrase / Spell; 'Ma A U'. There are also Yantra that use Numbers instead of Symbols to indicate the meaning. Sometimes in order to shorten the length of the Agkara (khom lettering), the Yantmaster may prefer to use Numbers to represent the PhraKataa (Mantra). For example, if you want to write the mantra 'Nowahorakun' (A Sang Wi Su Loe Bu Sa Pu Pa - Nine Syllables), you can write the number 9 instead (Thai Numeral). One should intone the Kataa as one inscribes or tattoos the number onto the surface one is working on .

The Following Sutras are Kataa to be intoned whilst applying the Yant;

Rules of behaviour when going to recieve a Yant tattoo from a Buddhist Monk/Brahmin shaman;

When one approaches the shrine where the Yant are tattooed, one must leave one's shoes on the steps leading up to the room. You should obtain offerings for the Master before entering the salon; Incense sticks, Flower garlands, money in an envelope, and maybe a packet of krong tip cigarettes if you whish (plus a can of birdy ice coffee! - it gets hot in the room, and the monks like to drink this stuff).

Upon entering, you should go to your knees, place your hands in a praying position in front of your forehead and then bow forward , placing the palms of your hands on the floor. This you should repeat three times.

After this you can sit around in the queue, and watch the devotees recieve their Yant tattoos, while you wait to be called your turn (if you are lucky, you may get to see Khong Khuen occur!). When you are called for your tattoo, you should present the offerings outstretched on a silver tray before you, and the Monk will take hold of the tray, and say a Kataa to bless you and the offerings before the tattoo.

After this he will perform 'Piti Hwai Kru gaeji Ajarn' (Call of respect to the Ruesii), and ask you to get into position for the tattoo. After the tattoo, you should place your hands together again, and the Monk will perform 'Tong kataa Bpuug Saeg' (Invoke a Mantra), and blow it into the Yant tattoo with his breath.

You should then bow 3 times again and the ritual is finished.

About the popular rumor that the Temple is overrun by Criminals seeking Yant tattoos;

It is true, that hired killers like to wear Sacred yant tattoos, but i have to say that all levels of Society has people who wear a Yant. Even if it is 'Sak Nam Man' (using oil instead of ink).

Soldiers, policemen, Politicians, Doctors lawyers etc...and Criminals too. No exceptions are made about who a monk allows to have a Yant, except if you come drunk or in an unacceptable state.

Extra information about Sak Yant tattooing.

The Thais believe that the Yant tattoo will have the power to charm a desired lover, protect one from one's enemy, or even stop a bullet!

Strange phenomenae have occured throughought the ages in connection with the Yant - such as a famous Thai Air Force Pilot being shot repeatedly with an M16 and only having bruises! Or guns being repeatedly shot at someone with a Yant, and the gun not going off. I thought i would explain about 'Master Day' before we take a look at some of the Yant Tattoos and look at their meaning.

Master day is the day where all Disciples attend the Temple to pay respects to the Master of Yant.

On this occasion up to 10,000 believers bestow the temple with their presence, and recieve the blessings and hear the Master of the Wad (Temple) chant the 'Kataa Hua Jai' (Heart Mantra) of each of the 108 Yant. Gur Ru Su Gu Na Ma Pa Ta, Ma A U...the chant of leaping Tiger Yant; made popular by the 'Suea' (Highwaymen/Villians) of the past, and the 'Nak Laeng' (Asassins/Mafia)of the present.

Leaping Tiger yant is one of the Yant that made Bang Pra famous, supposedly having the power to awaken the spirit of the Tiger when one is in danger.This is what the Thais call 'Khong Khuen' (thing rises). Khong Khuen is the strange occurence of the Tattooee losing awareness and becoming absorbed by the spirit of the animal has been tattooed with. I have seen this Phenomenon on many occasions at the Wad.
Sak Yant is an Ancient Tradition and should not be taken lightly when considering recieving a Sak Yant Tattoo.
The rules of wearing the Yant, and the implications of breaching the vows of Buddhism require a certain levelm of serieousness when recieving yant tattoos from a Monk, and the effects of recieving Sak yant will reverberate throughout the rest of your life, once having recieved a sacred yant.
So please be respectful, meek and unfrivolous when visiting the Temple/office of a sak yant Master, and dont forget to be a little generous when making the donation for the yant tattoo.