People have been decorating their bodies since ancient times, and originally tattoos were used as protective designs and amulets on the body. Only the elite could apply symbols to the skin. Each tattoo meant belonging to a caste or a certain circle of people. It was the underwear symbolism that served as an identifier and told interesting facts about the owner.
Thai tattoos carry a spiritual connotation and are filled with deep sacred meaning and faith. Yantras are considered their basis.
Magic and mysticism
Thai tattoos differ from other symbols not only in many details and additional elements of one sign, but also in energy fullness and magical meaning. Yantras are energy structures that are depicted through the words of a deity or a certain flow of energy. You can fill the tattoo with power in the process of meditation or relaxation.
During the period when the soul goes beyond the body and wanders in the streams of the mind, the symbolconnects to higher energy and nourishes the whole body. Due to this meaning, yantras were originally applied to monks and believers.
Yang means holding, this is what is attached to the material world. The concept is associated with the power of thought and the embodiment of the desired. In today's world, this would be motivation with practical action.
Tra means going out of everyday life to the spiritual renunciate level. Together, yantra is a combination of opposites that move a person throughout life.
Marks on the body
Thai tattoos have a rich history and many ways of expression. The combination of different semantic images allows you to create a new meaning. This is a kind of prayer of a person, his ability to carry his temple with him. It is almost impossible to decipher all the characters and give their meaning in combination with others, because each combination can have different interpretations and fullness.
Bindu is a compressed form of energy, it means the inner world of a person, the circle, on the contrary, indicates the expansion and release of this energy from the source. Thai tattoos can have combinations of symbols with opposite meanings.
The circle denotes the Universe, what a person strives for, what he wants to know. Often other symbols are inscribed in the circle, which means a continuous connection with the Higher Forces and spiritual knowledge. If lotus petals are depicted in a circle, then this is a reflection of the real world with its 8 aspects:
- akasha;
- air;
- fire;
- water;
- earth;
- mind;
- understanding the supreme essence;
- higher intelligence, or consciousness.
These are eight main worlds, in each of which a person can stay as long as he sees fit. Modern masters interpret this as places of reincarnation.
Geometry based
Thai-style tattoos often contain other symbols and signs. Most of them are geometric shapes. The circles depicted on the lotus petals can mean the temporary limitations of life or its three incarnations:
- The past. What a person experienced and what gave him the necessary experience to continue his life path.
- Real. Its masters distinguish it with a large ring or another color, since the physical spirit of a person resides here.
- Future. This is the aspiration of energy and the direction of desires into space.
The image of a triangle with an acute angle upwards means the desire to know oneself and one's essence in the world. Such a tattoo is done by people related to spiritual practices and training. The original meaning of the symbol was in the personification of male energy and an inexhaustible source of power. The element that accompanied the symbol was fire.
The downward facing triangle symbolized the feminine, and its element was water as the beginning of a new life. Star of David - a static balance of two energies, help in the implementation of the plan.
The nine-pointed star is a direct indication of the nine energies in the human life cycle. three trianglestops up means three energies:
- creative;
- preserving;
- destructive.
The three qualities of the universe connect with the three rings of time. Another geometric figure that is often used in tattoos is a square. The outer symbol means practicality and success in everyday affairs. The square represents stability and firmness, the strength of the earth and the four cardinal directions.
Lines in symbols
Using simple lines not only helps to create a smooth transition between different characters, but also adds meaning and enhances the meaning of already applied characters. Sketches of Thai tattoos often contain different types of lines.
Horizontal means inactivity and static. They can be used when transitioning from different elements or to create a balance between activity and relaxation. It is also resilience in decision making.
Vertical lines indicate the activity of a person and his desire to develop. This is an indication of the movement of life and its instability, constant change.
Three layers of the line symbolize the three states of matter: solid, liquid and gaseous. In this style of signs, not only spiritual and material aspects are intertwined, but also the foundations of science and human belief in Higher Forces.
The meaning of the ancient image
Thai tattoo Sak Yant was done in ancient times by warriors who wanted to protect themselves from fatal wounds and defeat in battle. After drawing on the skin, the shaman spoke so that the magical power would not leave the personnever.
Sacred drawings can not only protect against problems or bad situations in life, but also help, for example, attract success. But, done incorrectly, a tattoo can also bring trouble. Thai tattoo Sak Yant in the process of execution requires the full exposure of the magical ritual.
Before starting the procedure, it is imperative to determine for yourself those goals that the tattoo should help achieve, be sure to discuss this with the master, talking about your aspirations and desires. For a particular person, individual patterns are selected. This is what the master does. No need to transfer other people's sketches or symbols to your body. Even a combination can carry the wrong energy that will help in life.
Thai Sak tattoos can only be done by monks. They know the secret of reading signs and compiling semantic structures to transfer certain knowledge and connect with the Higher Forces.
Buddhist monks can only make such a tattoo for males. Tattoo artists can also apply a pattern to women's skin, but this is strictly prohibited for monks. Prayers that are encrypted in tattoos are called Kata or mantra. The meaning of Thai Sak Yant tattoos can vary depending on which mantra is encrypted in the designs and how it can be read.
Execution technology
Tattooing is different now than it used to be. Modern masters use a bamboo stick or a steel rod with a sharp end. The sticks are reusable and are used after treatment with alcohol. There is no other way to disinfect.
Although they are used for work several times, the sticks themselves are considered unique and Sanskrit prayers are read over each. The master can complete an order for several minutes or a whole day, depending on the complexity of the drawing and its parameters.
As for pigments, only black is used. In tattoo parlors, these symbols can be multi-colored, but the original versions are made in only one tone.
Day and mood of a person are important for application. If he is unhappy with something or is in a bad mood, then most likely he will not get a tattoo.
Modern tradition
Although photos of Thai tattoos can be seen in the public domain, few people are interested in what these symbols mean. In general, tourists perceive local residents with such symbols on their bodies as just interesting people, without trying to delve into the essence of their tattoos.
If we talk about interpretation, then each semantic construction can change its meaning depending on the presence of additional elements. Thai tattoos and their meaning have long been hidden from others due to a narrow range of applications.
At first, only monks and warriors applied such symbols to themselves. The popularity of tattoos of this culture began to grow with the appearance on the body of actors and world-class stars of entire rows with letters. Now Thai tattoos and their meaning are an integral part of the development of the art of decorating the body with symbols around the world.
Sacred symbols are used in various types of human activities, ranging from creative professions to sports. In combat sports, it is believed that the symbols will help you win and defeat the enemy. Photos in Thai boxing tattoos can be found quite often. Famous boxers adorned their bodies for protection and motivation to win.
Application locations
Each person has his own preferences in terms of choosing the area on the body where you want to get a tattoo. But since Thai symbols are sacred and have a magical meaning, the masters advise making them where they will not be visible to prying eyes.
The ideal place is the back. There is enough space here to apply all the symbols evenly and accurately, and the body will be covered by clothes from others. When you need to show vitality and endurance, activity in making an important decision, then the symbol will help faster if applied to the chest near the heart.
Masters consider this place to be powerful in terms of energy, so you need to take such a step deliberately. Tattoos in Thai boxing are applied to the arms and legs, these are places of human strength and activity, meaning movement. Of course, the appropriate symbolism is also selected here.
Monks and believers put elements of sacred texts on the palms and knuckles. This activates the spiritual beginning of a person and stimulates self-knowledge.
How to avoid mistakes
A magical tattoo only comes into effect when it is made in a certain period and by the presentmaster. You can not combine several different tattoos in one plot. Sometimes you can find drawings with letters and additions borrowed from Eastern culture.
This negatively affects the depicted symbol and does not allow the tattoo to take effect. Also, unfinished tattoos should not be worn on the skin. Motives can begin to influence in the reverse order, that is, instead of positive energy, attract destruction and negativity into life.
When choosing a place for a tuation, you need to understand that its meaning, activity of influence will depend on the area of application. Do not make sacral elements in a conspicuous place or immediately apply another with the same meaning next to one symbol.
About Thai tattoos, photos will not tell their meaning. It is not enough just to see a beautiful story and do the same for yourself. It is necessary to study in detail all the components of the motive, find out the meaning, and only after that apply it to your body from a trusted master. It is advisable to make such tattoos directly in the country where it is popular, with a monk or a person who is spiritually disposed to such work and can convey the desired meaning in the drawing.
As for color pigments, this should also be abandoned. If we are talking about a prayer symbol, then the colors can activate it either not strong enough or too dynamic, from which the owner may suffer.
The original color for Sak Yant is black pigment and the instrument is a bamboo or steel stick. Only in this way the applied symbol can bring to life all the necessary and desiredthings.
One tattoo cannot change your whole life, but it can bring to it those qualities and virtues that will inspire a person to great achievements and activity.
Tattoo care
As for practical care, there are many important points that should not be missed. Masters advise immediately after the tattoo is done, close the skin with a special bandage for several hours. This will help protect the injured skin from air and dirt.
Do not forget about the importance of disinfection and constantly treat the place of tattooing with special means. Do not remove the crust from the surface, this can lead to scarring and the appearance of scars on the surface. It is advisable to lubricate the place of the tattoo with petroleum jelly before a bath or shower, this will help protect the drawing from moisture and soaking of the skin.
Masters advise not to engage in physical activity after a tattoo appears on the body. Soft tissues will be injured anyway, and an extra load can lead to the onset of an inflammatory process. It is advisable to stop going to the gym for a few weeks.
Sunbathing with a fresh tattoo is also a bad idea as it can damage the pigment and the design itself. Masters advise several weeks, which will last the healing process, to behave carefully and try not to harm the skin.
If you didn’t like the tattoo or over time there was a desire to supplement it with other elements, then it will be possible to injure this area again only througha few months after the completion of the scarring process. To speed up tissue regeneration, you can apply special ointments or creams. They are sold in pharmacies.
Also important is the care of the tattoo itself in the future, so that it looks beautiful and stylish. The area should be treated with a cream to soften the skin, but do not buy moisturizing or nourishing. Applying simple tips will help not only enjoy a quality result, but also significantly speed up the healing process.
