A Comparative Study of Yantra Characters in Brahmanism-Hinduism and Buddhism Thai Society

Abstract

          This research article has objectives: 1) to study of yantra characters in Brahmanism–Hinduism in Thai society, 2) to study of yantra characters in Buddhism in Thai society and 3) to compare of yantra characters in Brahmanism–Hinduism and Buddhism in Thai society. This research employed a qualitative methodology, gathering data from the Tripitaka, Hindu scriptures, related research, and interviews with experts in the field. In the research, it was clearly found that 1. yantra characters in Brahman-Hinduism are based on beliefs in deities, sacred powers, and magical rituals. The characters traditionally used are Devanagari or ancient Sanskrit scripts. In Thai society, these yantra characters have been adapted through Brahmanic royal court ceremonies and local folk rituals, often transcribed into ancient Khmer script or Thai-Khmer script. They are commonly used in yantra cloths, sacred objects, tattoo yantras, and rituals for enhancing prestige and fortune. 2. Buddhist beliefs concerning yantra characters in Thailand have been influenced by Brahman-Hinduism, then integrated with Mahayana and Theravāda Buddhist traditions. These beliefs hold that yantras possess the power to protect from harm, bestow auspiciousness, and dispel misfortunes, with the core focus placed on the sacred qualities (buddha-guṇa) of the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha. The scripts commonly used for Buddhist yantras are ancient Khmer characters. 3. The beliefs about yantra characters in Thai society were influenced by both Brahman-Hinduism and Buddhism, their meanings and contexts have been adapted to harmonize with the structure of Thai religion and society. Brahman-Hindu beliefs emphasize divine power and sacred symbols, while Buddhist beliefs focus on the sacred qualities of the Buddha and the act of consecration to enhance mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom. In contemporary Thai culture, these two traditions have blended to form an integrated belief system where distinctions are no longer clearly demarcated, and these practices continue to be passed down through rituals, folk beliefs, and contemporary faith expressions.