Every time I thought of getting inked, the ghosts of my tattoos’ past would always catch up.  With two mistakes already on me and the rest eight (or so) bagged in as ‘life experiences’, I have been wary for the longest time to sit for another one. But Sak Yant or the Traditional Khmer Tattoo or Traditional Thai Tattoo is an other-worldly experience that you feel in every cell of your being.

The idea of an ink that reflected my ideologies and way of life, had been on my radar for a good period – it was time to shed inhibitions and Sak Yant felt like the obvious choice as it stood out for all the right reasons.

Although getting this special tattoo as a birthday present felt depreciating its value, it was still very much a part of an elaborate Chiang Mai scheme, but we didn’t quite meticulously plan or even book an appointment.

Believe me when I say this – Sak Yant is a calling. Only when your spirituality has aligned with your inner consciousness, then are you ready to be inked. I will come back to that a little later. Before that, a bit about Sak Yant and how it emerged.

 

Sak Yant Tattoo & Its History

‘Sak’ meaning ‘tap’ or ‘to tattoo’ and ‘Yant’ meaning ‘Yantra’ (a Sanskrit word) it is a by-product of cross-cultural adaptation of elements from Thai Animism, Theravada Buddhism and Hinduism.

An inked union of sorts in the Southeast Asian cultures, Sak Yant tattoos are believed to be 2000 years old, but the oldest record of its presence has been documented in the 1600s – during the Ayuttaya rule in Thailand.

Rooted in indigenous tribal animism, Sak Yant has age-old ties with Hindu-Buddhist traditions where Indian merchants and missionaries brought the yantra concept into the Khmer dynasty that had its hold not only in Cambodia but in Thailand too.

Theravada which means ‘Way of the Elders’ in Pali refers to the oldest school of scriptures dedicated to preserving the earliest forms of Buddhist teachings and monastic practices. The recorded compilation known as Pali canon or the Doctrine of Elders is scripted in Pali, an ancient Indian script whose origin can be traced to the Magadha region (present day Bihar). A form of vernacular Prakrit which is a family of languages, Pali evolved between the third and first century BCE. While the influence of Pali waned as compared to Sanskrit (used mostly by Brahmanical society) and Tamil (adopted by Hindus, Muslims, Christians and spoken widely in southern India), and suppressed due to dominant languages like Urdu (Islamic invasion) and Sanskrit, it remained an integral part of Buddhism rituals for chanting, suttas, mantras and rites because of its simplicity. With the spread of Buddhism beyond the borders of India, Pali travelled to corners of Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia which is why its influence in Thailand comes as no surprise.

Hinduism has been associated with designs as well as text – be it Hindu gods, figural elements and abstract letters that form a part of a geometric layout.

Condensed syllables connected in short strings form gathas or kathas translating into magic incantations – these are inked on bearers for protection and fortune.

 

My Sak Yant Experience

That day I lived the famous quote by Trisha Yearwood – ‘What’s meant to be will always find a way’. Up until our last day in Chiang Mai, getting a Sak Yant tattoo wasn’t even a remote possibility. Even though my spouse, who once was staunchly against getting a tattoo (since we got together more than a decade back), kept on gently whispering, “you should” every opportunity he got, but I wasn’t really feeling it.

 

 

After my inking fiasco years back, I realized tattooing isn’t something to be done on a whim. You need to be sure of what you want and most importantly WHY you want it. It could be anything, but it should mean something to you.

To be truthful, I wasn’t ready. I knew my ‘why’ but the ‘what’ was still hanging in doubt. It took a visit to the Sak Yant Chiang Mai studio (on Mr. D’s insistence) and a lengthy chat with one of the regular patrons who kept flying back from New Zealand that made me change my mind.

Flipping through the book on Thai Tattoos that comprised of hundreds of complex figures and elements depicting particular aspects along with texts, it was easy to get lost in this meaningful artistic maze (quite literally)!

 

 

I loved it all! But I wanted my tattoo to carry a message, not just a random mystic symbol I liked. After approaching the absolutely spectacular girl at the counter who walked me through the variations and the best possible option of the ink that resonated with my message, I finally chose The One.

Sak Yant isn’t only about the tattoo, it’s a spiritual process that follows Thai traditions. As Mr. D and I, both were getting the same tattoo, the process started with offering a basket of incense, cigarettes (yes! You read that right), flowers to the priest or Ajarn, post which the tattoo tapping started.

Having had machine inked before I was ready to endure equal or less pain (although deep inside, a voice had warned me otherwise). If you have ever undergone immense pain that render you ‘voiceless’, this was it. Somewhere deep inside my soul left with a bloodcurdling scream that never reached my physical being – the pain just left me numb and mum. Thankfully, the sweet lady at the counter had told me to focus on the ‘why’, which eventually left me in tears!

Here’s Why

The subsequent taps or pokes had left my mind in chaos. Between trying to focus on something in the midst of fleeting frames and the pain, the mind was in a riot. After what seemed like a century, I was able to push aside the noise and level with the ‘why’ – that’s when I turned into an emotional wreck.

 

 

An empath (at least that’s what I figured out after checking all the characterizing boxes from Insta Posts), who rescues and adopts, the journey gets hard at times when I have to come to terms with loss. It’s not easy. It chips away a part of me every time I sit in the waiting room, and am told ‘Sorry, they didn’t make it’. I never return the same. I wanted a representation of faith that would afford me the strength to live through pain and grief.

‘Nine peaks’ or ‘Nine spheres’ which is known as Gao Yord in Thai is a sacred tattoo that symbolizes a meaningful marriage between Hinduism and Buddhism was a gracious answer to my prayer. The term ‘sphere’ means different in context of a Gao Yord tattoo. It refers to the spires that form the central design of Sak Yant.

Starting right at the top of Gao Yord is the unnalome that represents the transition from mayhem to enlightenment. Unnalome is represented with a sphere at the bottom which symbolizes the chaotic beginning since inception with erratic lines meaning challenges and obstacles that mire the way to gaining higher consciousness and the straight line representing the journey to a clearer path to enlightenment that offers perspicuity and wisdom.

Right below the unnalome is a stack of ovals ranging from large to small that represent nine Buddhas, each of which carry a magical spell. They usually form the basis of several sacred ‘Yants’.

Following the stack are Buddhist psalms, not a phrase or text but a collection of syllables representing certain elements are strung together to form Thai kata or ‘Mantra’ which in Sanskrit means ‘prayer’. Scripted in Pali, a precursor of Sanskrit, are penned around ‘Yants’ and form the Buddha magic.

 

 

The process of Sak Yant inking involves a Khem Sak – a sharpened metal stick, ink and an Ajarn creating a masterpiece. A hand-poke method where every tap is different yet divine, painful but powerful. Every tap spilling unresolved emotions that rolled into tears. Every speck of ink a silent prayer of resilience, persistence, tranquility and gratitude. Every blessing bathed in faith. Every tap was my unnalome journey from chaos to clarity and more.

The ink was the scripted embodiment of belief – my cosmic catharsis. Of the nine blessings, I was focused on one that overshadowed all others. It was much later I figured that it was one that peaks above others, the one that decides humanity, the one that needs all the strength to stand tall, the reason you can never give up.

 

 

While I was trying to grapple these complex, unknown sensations with my eyes giving me no respite from the overflow, Mr. D, quite alarmed by my countenance, mistook the emotional pain with the physical one. Desperate, he pulled out a tissue to wipe the overflowing salty beads. How I wish I could explain my predicament – I couldn’t tear off from my thoughts coz then the physical pain would get real and there he was animatedly trying to soothe me from it! The frame felt like an irony as how physical agony is identified without much effort, but mental affliction isn’t.

By the time I was done, my mind was blank for a while. Perhaps processing every minuscule microevents that went on during the short 15 minutes (which felt like eternity!). The blank break last seconds before I went back to worrying about Mr. D – he who winces when I try cold waxing his back!

 

 

I was ready to hear a deafening yelp, but I sure was not prepared to hear this. NOTHING! Absolutely nothing. The man who would scream my eardrums off when one of our cats would scratch seemed to be in a different realm when the Ajarn started his process. Focused and calm he was inked in 15 minutes straight (like me)!

 

 

After inking, the Ajarn blessed us as a couple, tied a yellow thread around our wrist and stuck a small golden square on our back. This concluded the ritual.

What stood out at the end of the experience is no transparent sheet was glued on the back or

Finally, as I stepped out of the studio leaving my older self behind, I lingering thought finally surfaced ‘will you be back?’. The new me will not disregard that possibility but will surely leave it to ‘What’s meant to be will always find a way’.

 

Before I end, there are rules one needs to follow after a Sak Yant experience

• Do not kill
• Do not steal
• Do not lie
• Do not be unfaithful to spouse
• Do not get intoxicated
• Do not speak ill of your parents

 

 

P.S. – These aren’t too hard to follow if you live an august life. If you are sullied, it is believed that the blessings don’t perform at their optimal capacity.

 

Price of Sak Yant

Starts from THB 2,500 if done at studio. You also have the option of getting it done at the temple through them.

 

Things to Remember

1. Get a prior appointment for the tattoo as it get completely booked. The studio closes between 5 or 5:30 pm. In case they are accommodating your appointment post that, an extra THB 1,000 is charged as overtime.
2. Although the studio keeps a scarf to cover the front and keep the tattooing space open, dress modestly.
3. Be respectful.

 

 

Sak Yant Designs & Meanings

The most widely suggested for beginners are

1) Hah Taew (Five Line)
2) Gao Yord (Buddha Peaks)
3) Paed Tidt (8 Direction)

For more information on each of these please Refer here

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 

• What are the rules of a Sak Yant tattoo?

Do not kill

Do not steal

Do not lie

Do not be unfaithful to spouse

Do not get intoxicated

Do not speak ill of your parents

 

• Is Sak Yant Hindu?

Sak Yant is based on Indic yantras that incorporate elements of Hinduism, Theraveda Buddhism and Thai Animism

 

• Does Sak Yant hurt?

Anything that pokes your skin will hurt (if you don’t have Rhino skin)!

 

• How painful is Sak Yant?

Depends on the pain-taking capacity of the bearer.

 

• What are the benefits of Sak Yant?

Sak Yant tattoos are believed to mystical powers to protect, heal and bring fortune to its bearers. Although I sincerely believe that one’s faith in the magic of the tattoo bears benefits. It’s manifestation.

 

• What religion is the Sak Yant tattoo?

Predominantly Buddhist, Sak Yant also includes elements of Hinduism and Animism.

 

• Can non-Buddhists get Sak Yant tattoo?

Yes, non-Buddhists can get Sak Yant tattoos

 

• Where did Sak Yant originate?

This traditional form of tattoo originated in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. Initially started by Holy Shaman, it eventually was carried on by Buddhist monks.

 

• Does Sak Yant use machines?

No, Sak Yant uses Khem Kak – a pointy steel rod to ink.

 

• Who does the Sak Yant tattoos?

In a traditional set-up, a priest or an Ajarn inks Sak Yant. Although many tattoo parlours offer to get it done but those are not the original ones. Since actual Sak Yant tattoo involves blessing.

 

• Where can you get Sak Yant tattoo?

You can get it done in selected temples in Bangkok and Chiang Mai and search for authentic tattoo studios where Ajarns ink Sak Yants. You can also seal the deal with Where Sidewalks End or book an experience with Get Your Guide.

 

 

Misinformation & Myths Surrounding Sak Yant Tattoos

Please note that all this information has been gathered from Sak Yant Chiang Mai site.

If you have further questions please reach out to them for clarification.

 

The Origin of Sak Yant Tattoo

Misinformation & Myth: Buddhist monks once inscribed Sak Yant tattoos onto warriors, believing these magic symbols cloaked their bodies, offering protection and strength in battle against knives and arrows.

Reality: The history of Sak Yant is far richer and more complex than commonly understood. While often associated with temples, these sacred tattoos were originally created by Holy Shamans, not Buddhist monks.

 

Poke or Tap Vs Machine Tattoo

Misinformation & Myth: Sak Yant, traditional Thai tattoos, are created by engraving designs into the skin using a long metal spike or sharpened bamboo, never machines.

Reality: While the traditional hand-poke method is still used, many Sak Yant masters and monks now utilize modern tattoo machines. The idea of bamboo needles is actually a marketing myth, as Thai temples have historically used metal tools for over a millennium. This “bamboo needle story” gained traction primarily when tattoo shops began offering replica Sak Yant designs to tourists.

 

The Monk Chooses The Design Based on Auras

Misinformation & Myth: Monks often select a sacred design and tattoo placement for you, guided by your aura.

Reality: The idea of monks seeing auras for Sak Yant is a misconception; auras are a Western New Age concept, not part of Buddhist or Sak Yant traditions. While a Sak Yant master can help you choose a design, doing so without your own understanding suggests a lack of knowledge about Sak Yant’s purpose. It’s more respectful and effective to explain your reason for wanting a Sak Yant and the specific design you’ve chosen to represent it. The tattoo’s placement is determined by the design itself; some designs have fixed locations, while others offer flexibility.

P.S. – This is what I did. I explained what I was looking for.

 

Clickbait – ‘Best Place’ to Get a Sak Yant Tattoo

Misinformation & Myth: For a genuine Sak Yant tattoo in Thailand, Wat Bang Phra temple is highly recommended. It’s conveniently located 40 minutes west of Bangkok.

Reality: While Wat Bang Phra is widely recognized as the traditional hub for Sak Yant tattoos, there’s truly no single “best” place. Each Sak Yant master offers a distinct blend of skills, traditions, and adherence to various rules, making every experience unique.

Anyone claiming a specific master or location is “the best” or “the only” often lacks broad experience, having likely only visited one place. Such assertions are typically made to project expertise or for financial gain, rather than offering a genuinely informed comparison.

 

The Ink Concocted with Snake Venom and Human Parts

Misinformation & Myth: Each monk crafts their unique, secret blend of magic tattoo ink, rumored to include Chinese charcoal, snake venom, palm oil, and even human remains.

Reality: Most Sak Yant masters now use commercially available ink, sourced from local tattoo suppliers. The notion that traditional ink is still painstakingly crafted from jungle ingredients, simply because Sak Yant is an ancient practice, is outdated and incorrect, much like the idea that bamboo needles are still handmade for hours.

 

Questions Surrounding Sak Yant Hygiene

Misinformation & Myth: The safety of Sak Yant is questionable due to potential hygiene risks. While the tattooing needle is typically wiped with alcohol or swapped out between clients, the shared ink pot presents a significant concern, as blood can easily cross-contaminate the ink.

Reality: At Wat Bang Phra in Bangkok, some people reportedly pay less than the cost of supplies for a Sak Yant tattoo, meaning the monastery might reuse ink, gloves, or needles. However, this isn’t the norm for other Sak Yant masters in Thailand, who consistently use new equipment for each client. Even at Wat Bang Phra, requesting fresh supplies and offering an appropriate donation almost always ensures they are provided.

 

The Cost of a Sak Yant Tattoo

Misinformation & Myth: Outside the temple’s entrance, a simple purchase of orchid flowers, incense sticks, and menthol cigarettes for 75 baht (approximately $2.40 US) is enough as offering. Everyone seeking a Sak Yant tattoo is expected to present these simple gifts to the monk as payment.

Reality: The widespread myth that a genuine Sak Yant costs only $2-3 is false and misleading. This small sum is merely an offering to the temple and the Sak Yant Master, made out of respect. A separate donation is then given for the actual tattooing service.

To know more about why Sak Yant Tattoos aren’t free read here.

 

Real Monks can’t touch a women or female

Misinformation & Myth: Monks are forbidden from touching females, so they cannot personally give Sak Yant tattoos to women.

Reality: While no monastic rules prohibit monks from touching women, the common misconception stems from a misinterpretation of a Sanhadusesa guideline. This myth often arises because people selectively quote only a portion of the rule, omitting crucial context and accurate information.

“The saṃghādisesa 2 says “yo pana bhikkhu otiṇṇo vipāriṇatena cittena mātugāmena saddhiṃ kāyasaṃ saggaṃ samāpajjeyya hatthaggāhaṃ vā veṇiggāhaṃ vā aññatarassa vā aññatarassa vā aṅgassa paramasanaṃ saṃghādiseso.”

The saṃghādisesa 2 Not to touch a woman. If, with a lustful mind, a bhikkhu touches a woman – even a female born on that very same day – or the hair of a woman (not cut), it entails a meeting of the saṃgha.”

 

Are Hand-poked Bamboo Needle Tattoo Sak Yant?

Misinformation & Myth: Travel blogs and commercial tattoo shops frequently link Sak Yant tattoos with “bamboo needles” or “bamboo tattoos.” This often misleads people into believing that a traditional hand-poked tattoo using bamboo is synonymous with a Sak Yant.

Reality: The notion of a “Bamboo Tattoo” in relation to Sak Yant is a two-decade-old misconception, largely propagated by inaccurate Western media. Historically, bamboo tattooing was never a Thai tradition, lacking any academic or historical basis in discussions of Sak Yant. True Sak Yant masters (Ajarns) have always referred to these as Sak Yant. While many tattoo shops use “Bamboo Tattoo” as a marketing tactic or for SEO purposes due to its widespread but incorrect acceptance, legitimate providers will often clarify this myth. Ultimately, the idea of a bamboo needle is a marketing gimmick, as it has never been authentically used for Sak Yant.