- Kinds of Vedas -

    The word Veda (เวทย์) is derived from Atharva Veda (อาถรรพณ์เวทย์) which is a Sanskrit for a type of scripture describing the various branches of occultism. It includes different sacred incantations used for communicating with ghosts or spirits, protection from danger and eliminating bad omens. The scripture originated before Buddhism from rituals in Brahmanism, a religious and social system of the Brahmans and orthodox Hindus. After Brahmanism had spread to other regions, the scripture was modified into many different versions, such as Khmer's version, Morn's version and the Brahmin version.

    It was believed that Vedas were created by integrating immensely strong celestial powers with sacred incantations and that they can communicate with spirits or deities for help. Vedas can be categorized as follows:

1. Healing Vedas: Used to relieve or heal diseases using consecrated invocations and spiritual powers.

2. Assembling Vedas: Used to assemble the bones and flesh in the body. These are still practiced in many of today’s rituals.

3. Unlocking Vedas: Used to open or unfasten something that is securely protected such as fetters, latches, bolts, a fishbone in the throat, or even a baby in the womb. Unlocking Vedas are still widely used today especially by thieves.

4. Self-protecting Vedas: Used to endow ordinary things with supernatural power. Reciting these incantations can protect users from harm and make them invulnerable to all weapons. This kind of Veda is quite popular in Thailand today and it will be explained in detail below.

5. Preternatural Vedas: Used to perform rituals such as becoming invisible or disappearing, going underground, diving underwater, walking in the air and shortening long distances. While many can do one of these activities, few people are able to perform many of them at once. Some highly trained monks are still capable of using this kind of Veda. It is also believed that many notorious thieves, such as Tee Yai or Suer Dum, knew how to use it to escape from the police.

6. Assaulting Vedas: Used to harm or attack others by using ghosts or spirits to do the work. For example, one can have the ghost twist the intestines of the enemies, or send dangerous objects into their bodies.

7. Anti-evil spirit Vedas: Used to protect the user from attacks by ghosts or evil spirits which their opponents have sent to harm them.

8. Potion Vedas: Used to cause someone to fall in love with a specific person either through reciting incantations or using a fetish such as a wax doll.

    Gurus and Veda experts are likely to practice many, if not all, of these Vedas. The objectives are varied, but can be categorized into 2 sects.

1. White magic school: This sect uses Vedas in a positive and beneficial way such as for relieving people’s misery, curing sickness and protecting people from danger. This school is followed mostly by noble Buddhist monks.

2. Black magic school: This sect exploits Vedas negatively to harm, afflict or kill others. Typically, this school is followed by exorcists, faith healers or shamans.

    Nowadays, Vedas are still widely practiced. However, unlike the traditional Vedas described in the scriptures, those available today are combinations of Buddhist and Brahmin incantations. According to Thai belief, Buddhist incantations, which have been practiced by the military in the past, are truly divine.