Australian Women's Tattoo

The story is a bit dated, but I just stumbled across some background news about the tattoo that Angelina Jolie had carved on her back several years ago. The Examiner has the details.

Angelina Jolie, world-class beauty and actress extraordinaire is famous in Thailand but, not as much for acting as she is for choosing a Bangkok tattoo artist to give her two of her many tattoos. Famous Thai tattoo master, Ajarn Noo Kamphai is a past Buddhist monk who gave Angelina Jolie the tattoo in Cambodian script she has on her left shoulder, and the tiger she had tattooed on her lower back the last time she was in Bangkok.

Ajarn Noo Kamphai ('ajarn' meaning 'teacher' in Thai) is actually a practitioner of Thai magic and is especially famous for his tiger tattoos believed to protect the wearer from harm. The tattoos Noo Kamphai tattooed on Angelina Jolie's body are known as sak yan or yantra tattoos in Thailand and are tattoos that are geometrical in design and are made to protect the wearer.

Unfortunately, at this time, Ajarn Noo Kamphai very rarely tattoos people himself anymore, but has one of his four disciples do the actual tattooing instead. He will then bless the tattoos and the wearer, once they are finished.

It's not necessary to visit Ajarn Noo Kamphai though to get a yantra tattoo like Angelina Jolie's. Monks in other temples in Thailand will create tattoos (although technically it's not really acceptable for a monk to do tattoos under Buddhist law in Thailand, many of them still do). If you want a yantra tattoo in Thailand, it's best to come here first and then ask a local the where the best temple to get a yantra tattoo is.

For more information on Ajarn Noo Kamphai visit his website at Ajarn Noo. There's some pretty spectacular photos of Angelina Jolie and her tattoos there too.

The website of Ajarn Noo provides another insight, with the standard quotient of ego boosting.

On April 23, 2003 Angelina Jolie, the Hollywood superstar received her first tattoo at Ajan Noo’s samnak. Ms.Jolie, together with 3 giant bodyguards and an interpreter, arrived there when many devotees were awaiting him for the same purpose. The actress decided to drive him to her guesthouse in Bangkok to make the tattoo.

At the guesthouse, Angelina Jolie begged the master to suggest a design. Ajan Noo examined her fortune and occupation and sketched a decoration of five rows of yantra with magic alphabets. It was a pleasant surprise for her when she saw the design.

The great film star asked Ajan Noo about the meaning. He replied “It is the ancient belief that yantra represents a spell on each row. The first row provides charms, the second brings good fortune, the third provides successful job and business, the fourth means her sign of zodiac, the fifth is to gain charisma.” The tattoo would be crafted on her left shoulder. It took about 15 minutes.

Ajan Noo wrapped up that it was a powerful tattoo. The ancient characters related to Phra Sutra. A series of holy writing formed sacred virtues. Devotees would be attractive to those of opposite sex and successful in business. Even enemies would turn to be friends with the tattoo wearer. Angelina Jolie came back again as she had gained all of the benefits from her first tattoo.

After having the first tattoo, Angelina Jolie flew back to Los Angeles immediately that night. She rushed for her performance of the film “ The Beach.”