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 otherworldly experience that you feel in every cell of your being. And what better place than to get it done at Sak Yant Chiang Mai!

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

Although getting this special tattoo as a birthday present felt like it was 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.

First and foremost, because of Sak Yant Chiang Mai’s location, which was just 2 kms from our stay – Awana House . The second reason was the glorious reviews on Google (you can’t beat this)!

Only after we arrived, we realised this was indeed a sound decision to choose Sak Yant Chiang Mai. The staff were informed and extremely helpful.

Truth be told, it was the staff who spoke with me and suggested me Gao Yord or the Nine Spires that represents the nine peaks of Mount Meru. Depecting strength, courage, injury prevention, popularity, and protection this is often chosen as the first Sak Yant by most. After careful consideration I zeroed in on this one.

[Also read: Best 35 Things To Do In Chiang Mai On A Budget]

‘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 something different in the 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 carries 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 that 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.

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, 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 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 were both getting the same tattoo, the process started with offering a basket of incense, cigarettes (yes! You read that right), and flowers to the priest or Ajarn, after 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 renders 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!

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, my 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 at 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.

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 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 microevent that went on during the short 15 minutes (which felt like eternity!). The blank break lasted 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 wrists, and stuck a small golden square on our back. This concluded the ritual.

Finally, as I stepped out of the studio, leaving my older self behind, a 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 your 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.

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

1. Get a prior appointment for the tattoo, as it gets completely booked. The studio closes between 5 and 5:30 pm. If they are accommodating your appointment after 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.

 

Yes, it is generally okay for foreigners to get a Sak Yant, provided you approach the tradition with genuine respect, cultural awareness, and proper etiquette.

The cost of an authentic Sak Yant tattoo in Thailand varies drastically from 100 THB to over 15,000 THB ($3 to $450+ USD) depending on where you go, who performs the ritual, and the size of the design.

It is painful to get Sak Yant but the level of pain varies depending on your pain tolerance and where the tattoo is placed.

Getting a Sak Yant tattoo is not considered disrespectful as long as it is done with genuine respect for Thai culture, proper placement, and authentic traditional guidelines.

Areas with thin skin over bones, high concentrations of nerve endings, or constant friction that causes rapid fading.

In Chiang Mai, the cost of a tattoo generally ranges from 1,000 THB to 5,000 THB ($30–$150 USD) for small-to-medium pieces, while large, custom work or full-day sessions cost 15,000 THB to 40,000+ THB ($440–$1,200+ USD)

A standard Sak Yant tattoo takes 15 to 30 minutes for a basic design, though larger or more complex pieces can range from 1 to 4 hours (or multiple sessions for a full-back piece).

Do not kill

Do not steal

Do not lie

Do not be unfaithful to your spouse

Do not get intoxicated

Do not speak ill of your parents

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

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

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

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

Yes, non-Buddhists can get Sak Yant tattoos

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

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

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

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.