__NOTOC__ Takrut () is a type of tubular

amulet An amulet, also known as a good luck charm or phylactery, is an object believed to confer protection upon its possessor. The word "amulet" comes from the Latin word , which Pliny's ''Natural History'' describes as "an object that protects a perso ...

that originated from

Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

. It is also known as "Tangkai" in other cultures. The takrut is similar to a talisman ( /

transliterated Transliteration is a type of conversion of a text from one writing system, script to another that involves swapping Letter (alphabet), letters (thus ''wikt:trans-#Prefix, trans-'' + ''wikt:littera#Latin, liter-'') in predictable ways, such as ...

: ). The word ''Takrut'' is used for both Singular and Plural, although many people do add an 's' (Takruts). However, the proper way to refer to takrut, when in plural, is 'Takrut'. They are worn by Thai people as a protective amulet and have existed for centuries. They are the most commonly mentioned form of amulet in the

Khun Chang Khun Phaen ''Khun Chang Khun Phaen'' (, ) is a long Thai epic poem which originated from a legend of Thai folklore and is one of the most notable works in Thai literature. The work's entire length is over 20,000 couplets. Khun Chang and Khun Phaen are the ...

, a Thai epic. They have an elongated scroll-like shape, and are usually made of metal or palm leaf and tied to the body with a cord. Yant (ยันต์,

yantra Yantra (; 'machine'/'contraption') is a geometrical diagram, mainly from the Tantric traditions of the Indian religions. Yantras are used for the worship of deities in temples or at home; as an aid in meditation; and for the benefits believe ...

) are incantations and sacred geometric designs with

Pali Pāli (, IAST: pāl̤i) is a Classical languages of India, classical Middle Indo-Aryan languages, Middle Indo-Aryan language of the Indian subcontinent. It is widely studied because it is the language of the Buddhist ''Pali Canon, Pāli Can ...

gatha ''Gāthā'' is a Sanskrit term for 'song' or 'verse', especially referring to any poetic metre which is used in legends or folklores, and is not part of the Vedas but peculiar to either Epic Sanskrit or to Prakrit. The word is originally derived ...

and Buddhist prayers (invocations and empowerment spells), usually, but not always inscribed using the ancient Khom Pali script (a variant of

Khmer script Khmer script (, )Huffman, Franklin. 1970. ''Cambodian System of Writing and Beginning Reader''. Yale University Press. . is an abugida (alphasyllabary) script used to write the Khmer language, the official language of Cambodia. It is also use ...

used in Thailand). In Northern Thailand, they use

Lan Na The Lan Na kingdom or the Kingdom of Lanna (, , "Kingdom of a Million Rice Fields"; , , ), also known as Lannathai, was an Indianized state centered in present-day Northern Thailand from the 13th to the 18th centuries. The cultural developmen ...

Tai Tham script Tai Tham script (''Dharma, Tham'' meaning "scripture") is an abugida writing system used mainly for a group of Southwestern Tai languages i.e., Northern Thai language, Northern Thai, Tai Lue language, Tai Lü, Khün language, Khün and Lao langu ...

. The takrut is used for all purposes from Maha Sanaeh (attraction), Metta Mahaniyom (business success and popularity), Mercy Charm, Maha Pokasap/Lap (riches attraction), and Kong Grapan (invincibility). Potential takeouts include gems, especially

engraved gem An engraved gem, frequently referred to as an intaglio, is a small and usually semi-precious gemstone that has been carved, in the Western tradition normally with images or inscriptions only on one face. The engraving of gemstones was a major lux ...

statue A statue is a free-standing sculpture in which the realistic, full-length figures of persons or animals are carved or Casting (metalworking), cast in a durable material such as wood, metal or stone. Typical statues are life-sized or close to ...

coin A coin is a small object, usually round and flat, used primarily as a medium of exchange or legal tender. They are standardized in weight, and produced in large quantities at a mint in order to facilitate trade. They are most often issued by ...

drawing Drawing is a Visual arts, visual art that uses an instrument to mark paper or another two-dimensional surface, or a digital representation of such. Traditionally, the instruments used to make a drawing include pencils, crayons, and ink pens, some ...

pendant A pendant is a loose-hanging piece of jewellery, generally attached by a small loop to a necklace, which may be known as a "pendant necklace". A pendant earring is an earring with a piece hanging down. Its name stems from the Latin word ...

s, rings,

plant Plants are the eukaryotes that form the Kingdom (biology), kingdom Plantae; they are predominantly Photosynthesis, photosynthetic. This means that they obtain their energy from sunlight, using chloroplasts derived from endosymbiosis with c ...

s and

animal Animals are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms in the Biology, biological Kingdom (biology), kingdom Animalia (). With few exceptions, animals heterotroph, consume organic material, Cellular respiration#Aerobic respiration, breathe oxygen, ...

s; even words in the form of a

magical spell An incantation, spell, charm, enchantment, or bewitchery is a magical formula intended to trigger a magical effect on a person or objects. The formula can be spoken, sung, or chanted. An incantation can also be performed during ceremonial ritu ...

incantation An incantation, spell, charm, enchantment, or bewitchery is a magical formula intended to trigger a magical effect on a person or objects. The formula can be spoken, sung, or chanted. An incantation can also be performed during ceremonial ri ...

, to repel

evil Evil, as a concept, is usually defined as profoundly immoral behavior, and it is related to acts that cause unnecessary pain and suffering to others. Evil is commonly seen as the opposite, or sometimes absence, of good. It can be an extreme ...

or bad luck. Takrut has been part of Thai culture even before buddhism arrived in Thailand. After Thai Buddhism take roots, the takrut become the earlier form of buddhism amulets made by monk in 1200-1300A.D. In ancient Thailand, takrut was very popular as there are constant warfare and poor security conditions. Takruts are mainly blessed for safe keeping (invulnerable) purpose, to bless end user for safety their daily work or business trips or going to war.

Variations of traditional takrut

Takrut are usually put inside a special type of case and worn with a chain around the neck at chest level. They are also worn about the waist but can also be worn as most pieces of jewelry. They are worn about the body to protect specific parts of the body or to grant power to those body parts. But whether it is worn at the chest or the waist, its purpose is still the same: to give protection to its wearer. Some smaller takrut can be kept between the teeth to allow the carrier to be a more powerful speaker. This power is called sariga, a golden tongued celestial magpie, featured in Vedic and Thai Buddhist Legends.

Notes

References

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External links

Informations about Thai Takut amulets
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A large selection of authentic takut amulets
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Variations of traditional takrut

See also

Notes

References

External links