Sacred Hindu Tattoo Analysis

Sacred Hindu Tattoos – Incredible Designs Packed With Color and Meaning

The Hindu faith, which originated in India, is one of the oldest known religions in the world with some historians believing that people began practicing Hinduism around 500BC. Today it continues to be a major religion and is classed as the 3rd largest worldwide.

Hindu’s believe in many gods, goddesses, and deities and over time this has given rise to incredible imagery. Bright colorful renderings of these multiple gods appear in paintings, sculptures and adorn religious text. For Hindu’s who love body art (and sometimes even those who don’t practice the faith) these gods and deities make exceptional tattoo subjects rich with meaning.

Those who practice Hinduism are

She is the wife of Lord Vishnu and is portrayed in tattoos with four arms often sitting or standing on a large lotus flower.

Kali – Kali is the regarded as the goddess of time, creation, destruction and power. She battles against evil and is seen as a divine protector. Tattoos of her often show standing over her consort Shiva. She is often designed with a blue face and a long, pointed tongue.

Ganesha – This is one of the most popular and widely worshiped deity in the Hindu culture. He is depicted with the head of an elephant and a human body. He is regarded as the God of new beginnings who can also help remove obstacles. Those who choose him for their tattoo design may do so to represent a fresh start or as a symbol of good fortune.

Nandi – Nandi is the bull that Lord Shiva used as his mount. The name means happiness or joy and many believe that his image will bring good fortune and contentment. He is half-bull and half-man and while this is not the most popular design, full-color renditions of him can look

It refers to a supreme being, the soul, understanding of the universe and knowledge. The symbol is a commonly requested tattoo, even among non-believers. It is often inked in solid black, red or blue.

Lotus – This flower, which grows out from the mud, is a sacred flower in the Hindu faith and is associated with divine beauty, purity, and enlightenment. Different color flowers are said to have different meanings but in tattoos, the popular hues are pink, mauve and light orange.

Techniques Used for Hindu Style Tattoos

The Old school tattoo style is quite popular for Hindu tattoos – featuring bold outlines and simple colors. Watercolor style, which continues to gain popularity, is also a fantastic choice especially for representations of the gods.

Black and gray tattoos like this are sometimes lined with white instead of black which gives the tattoo a three-dimensional look, as though it is popping off the skin.

Best Areas for Placement

If you want a small Hindu style tattoo you would probably want to go with a lotus or Om symbol. Tattoo designs of the various gods will always look better on a larger scale.

Hindu tattoos on the hands are also becoming more commonplace. These designs will usually include the Om symbol or