Saiyasat
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Thai magic, known as saiyasat (ไสยศาสตร์), is a set of esoteric practices within Thai folk religion, with origins in pre-Buddhist animism and influences from the esoteric traditions of India and Southeast Asia.[2] It is practiced through the means of rituals, spells, mantras and amulets believed to impact one's health, fortune, strength, fate and so on.[3]
Practices
Spells and mantras
Spells and mantras known as gatha (คาถา) are a common feature in Thai spirituality.[citation needed] Usually written and recited in Pali or the Khmer, these incantations are used in rituals for personal protection, love attraction, good fortune, or to influence the world in more general ways.[citation needed] They are believed to achieve this end by channeling supernatural forces on behalf of the practitioner.[4]
Amulets and talismans
Amulets and talismans are used as instruments of protection and luck attraction. The takrut is a tubular amulet containing sacred inscriptions in Pali or Khmer, often wrapped in cloth or metal, and believed to protect the wearer from physical or spiritual dangers. The palad khik, with its phallic shape, symbolizes fertility, abundance, and defense against curses, and is usually worn discreetly under clothing. The kuman thong is a spiritual figure of a child, venerated as a protective spirit that can bring prosperity and good luck if offered offerings and respectful rituals. These objects are often consecrated by spiritual masters and are believed to act as intermediaries between the visible and invisible worlds.[5]
Magical tattoos
Magical tattoos, known as sak yant (สักยันต์), consist of geometric designs, symbolic animals, or sacred figures combined with Pali formulas, inscribed on the skin using traditional techniques. Each design is believed to confer different types of protection or power on the bearer: physical resilience, luck, personal charm, or spiritual protection. These tattoos are performed by spiritual masters (ajaan), who recite spells during the tattooing process them to activate their power.[6]
Ritual figures
The hoon payont is a figure made from materials such as straw, wood, metal, or cloth, into which spells, yantras, and sacred invocations are incorporated to endow it with a protective or servile spirit. These figures are believed to defend their owners, attract wealth, or even perform tasks on their behalf. Another figure is the kwai tanu, an effigy of buffalo mud symbolizing strength and protection, used especially to keep malevolent spirits away and ensure prosperity.[7]
See also
References
- ↑ Thai Amulets, Ekkarat (2021-01-30). "Luang Phor Phat: Power of the Mantra". Retrieved 2025-10-19.
- ↑ Baker, Chris; Phongpaichit, Pasuk (2013). "Protection and Power in Siam: From Khun Chang Khun Phaen to the Buddha Amulet". Southeast Asian Studies. 2 (2): 215–242. doi:10.20495/seas.2.2_215.
- ↑ Reynolds, Craig J. (2019). Power, Protection and Magic in Thailand: The Cosmos of a Southern Policeman (PDF). Asian Studies Association of Australia. Retrieved 2025-10-18. Search this book on
- ↑ McDaniel, Justin (2014-01-07). The Lovelorn Ghost and the Magical Monk: Practicing Buddhism in Modern Thailand. Columbia University Press. doi:10.7312/columbia/9780231153775.003.0002. ISBN 978-0-231-15377-5. Search this book on
- ↑ McBain, Paul (2024-12-15). "The Amulet Culture of Thailand". Journal of the Siam Society. 112 (2): 7–15. doi:10.69486/112.2.2024.2.
- ↑ May, Angela. "Sak Yant: The Transition From Indic Yantras To Thai 'Magical' Buddhist Tattoos" (2014). All ETDs from University of Alabama at Birmingham. 2408. https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/2408
- ↑ Tambiah, Stanley Jeyaraja (1970). Buddhism and the spirit cults in north-east Thailand. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-07825-2. Search this book on
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