A Thai man was seriously injured after attempting to test the protective power of his sacred tattoos during an extreme ritual.
- The incident occurred during a ritual aimed at testing the supposed effectiveness of sacred tattoos.
- The ritual allegedly involved blows struck with an axe on his tattooed back.
- Rescuers found him covered in deep gashes before transferring him to hospital.
- Sak yant is an ancient spiritual tradition believed to offer protection and good luck.
A sacred tattoo ritual that goes wrong
A Thai man covered in sacred tattoos was evacuated by ambulance after a ritual. Photo: DailyNews Online
Volunteer rescuers from the Ruam Katanyu Foundation were called on the evening of Saturday, January 31, to a house on Thepharak Road in the town of Samut Prakan by the man's girlfriend.
She had returned home and found him collapsed on the floor, bleeding profusely.
The 37-year-old man had three deep gashes on his back covered in tattoos, apparently caused by an axe.
The deepest was about 2 cm and continued to bleed while the rescuers administered first aid before taking him to the nearest hospital, said rescuer Pornpipat Joradol.
According to his girlfriend, the man had gone earlier to a samnak sak yant (sacred tattoo sanctuary) in Bangkok to test the protective power of his tattoos, a practice that involves testing the tattoos by hitting the skin with sharp objects.
The injured man initially refused to admit it, claiming instead that he had cut himself with a knife.
The sacred sak yant tattoo, a deeply rooted belief in Thailand
Sacred and protective tattoos cover the back and arms of this Thai man. Photo: igormattio
Sak yant, or traditional sacred tattooing, has long been part of the local spiritual tradition.
It is believed that each pattern, or yant, offers its own form of supernatural protection, whether it's to ward off danger or attract luck, wealth, or personal charm.
Tattoos are traditionally done using a sharp needle, while a sak yant master quietly recites sacred mantras throughout the ritual.
See: Sak Yant: the traditional sacred tattoo in Thailand, what you need to know
Historically, Thai warriors often wore these marks as a source of morale, magical protection, and spiritual power in combat.
Many Thais still seek these tattoos as a kind of spiritual armor as well as body art.
Unbroken faith despite injuries
The man's tattooed back shows several cuts after the ritual. Photo: DailyNews Online
A volunteer woman who helped on the spot said the man had admitted to testing his tattoos several times in the past, especially during the Vegetarian Festival, without incident.
This time, he allegedly stated that "the axe was perhaps a bit too heavy", which caused the blade to sink into his back.
Despite the pain, the volunteer said she had the impression that the man was not about to give up this practice.
"He suffered throughout the ritual, but I don't think he gave up", she said.
"It's something he really believes in."
See also:
A tourist discovers he was tattooed without his knowledge in Thailand
When a French Thai boxing champion gets ridiculed by his tattoo artist
Why did a simple red line tattoo go viral on TikTok in Thailand?
Cards sold in Thailand as being magical contain radioactive materials
Source: DailyNews Online
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