Saiyasat

Saiyasat (ไสยศาสตร์, RTGS: saiyasat, lit. "occult sciences") refers to Thai black magic and esoteric practices involving supernatural powers, charms, curses, spirit invocations, and protective rituals.[1] It exists alongside, but is distinct from, Phuttasat (พุทธศาสตร์, "Buddhist science"), which is magic derived from Buddhist doctrine and merit-making.[2]

Saiyasat is deeply rooted in pre-Buddhist animism, Brahmanical ritual, and Khmer occultism. It encompasses a variety of practices from personal amulets (khrueang rang) and corpse oil (nam man phrai) to aggressive sorcery and love charms.[3]

Origins and Influences

Saiyasat predates the widespread adoption of Theravāda Buddhism in Thailand, drawing from indigenous spirit worship, Khmer necromancy, and Hindu tantric practices.[1] Many rituals are performed by mo phi (spirit doctors) or ajarn (occult masters), who may work outside the monastic order and are not bound by Buddhist Vinaya rules.[3]

By contrast, Phuttasat developed within the Buddhist monastic tradition, using Pali chanting, sacred diagrams (yantra), and amulets blessed through merit transfer rather than spirit manipulation.[2]

Practices

Common Saiyasat practices include:

  • Nam man phrai – oil extracted from a corpse, believed to compel love or obedience.
  • Kata akhom – magical incantations to summon spirits or cause harm.
  • Yok khao mongkhon – protective head-blessing combined with invocation of guardian spirits.
  • Amulet charging with non-Buddhist mantras and occult ingredients.

Saiyasat is often transactional and pragmatic—clients may seek wealth, revenge, love, or protection without regard to karmic consequences.[3]

Contemporary Role

In modern Thailand, Saiyasat continues to coexist with Buddhist practice, sometimes performed by the same individual in different contexts.[2] While mainstream monks may denounce it, Saiyasat thrives in folk religion, popular media, and commercial magic markets.

Differences from Phuttasat

Saiyasat and Phuttasat, while both forms of Thai magical practice, differ significantly in their foundations, practitioners, goals, methods, and perception within Buddhism. Saiyasat draws from animist, Brahmanical, and Khmer occult traditions, and is typically practiced by spirit doctors and lay occult masters. Its primary aim is to achieve immediate worldly results such as love, revenge, wealth, or harm. Common methods include spirit invocation, corpse-related magic, and blood offerings. In contrast, Phuttasat is rooted in Theravāda Buddhist teachings and is usually performed by Buddhist monks or ajarn with formal monastic training. Its goals are focused on protection, merit-making, and spiritual purification, employing techniques such as Pali chanting, merit transfer, and the consecration of yantra. Within the Buddhist worldview, Saiyasat is often regarded as morally dubious and karmically dangerous, whereas Phuttasat is generally accepted as compatible with Buddhist ethics.

See Also

References

  1. ^ a b Tambiah, Stanley Jeyaraja (1970). Buddhism and the Spirit Cults in North-East Thailand. Cambridge University Press. pp. 68–73. ISBN 978-0-521-09632-8. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
  2. ^ a b c Ishii, Yoneo (1986). Sangha, State, and Society: Thai Buddhism in History. University of Hawaii Press. pp. 141–144. ISBN 978-0-8248-1088-4. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
  3. ^ a b c Fuengfusakul, Apinya (1993). Thai Magic and the Modern World. Chulalongkorn University Press. pp. 21–27.
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