Sanskrit tattoo designs include a lot of Hindu symbolism. The Hindu symbols reference epics and ancient scriptures. Sanskrit tattoo designs are also sometimes referred to as wrist tattoos because many people get them inked on their wrists. All over the world, Sanskrit tattoo designs are gaining popularity, not just among the Hindi people.
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What is Sanskrit?
Sanskrit is one of twenty-two official languages in India. It’s also the liturgical language of Buddhists, Jains, and Hindus. Sanskrit means sanctified or refined, and it’s a language that is usually used for religious purposes. Sanskrit is a very ancient language, and in India, it is considered the mother of all languages. Sanskrit dated back to before 1500 BC and was the language of people belonging to Hindu religion. In fact, many people like Sanskrit tattoo designs because of the religious meanings behind them.
In ancient days Sanskrit was adopted as the language in courts of kings. However, today Sanskrit has followed the fate of Latin and is used by a few people of the Hindu religion and the Buddhist religion. The scriptures of Hindu religion were written in Sanskrit and scholars of today still learn the language to read the scriptures and understand the way of life from its chapters.
Meanings of Sanskrit Tattoo Designs?
Sanskrit tattoo designs take their roots from Hindu mythology. Sanskrit tattoo designs sometimes include flowers, religious scripts, and religious images, which have a profound meaning. These tattoos are usually relatively small, which makes them fit nicely on the wrist. That’s something that many people like because, aside from the face, the wrist is the most visible part of the body. So, Sanskrit tattoo designs can be easily shown to people.
History and Development of Sanskrit Tattoos
Tattoos were considered taboo by the Hindus just like many the other main religions. Today, times have changed enough for people to accept the body art for its fashion statement or symbolism. Sanskrit is no more a spoken language, and the ordinary Hindu or a Buddhist will not recognize a wrist Sanskrit tattoo design with Sanskrit alphabets from any other lettering.
Why are tattoos more accepted today as against the olden days? Well, probably the answer lies in technological advancement, more exposure to cultures and practices across the world, a slightly more open-mindedness to accepting tattoos just as anyone would accept piercing holes in the ears or nose to adorn jewelry. In the olden days, tattoos were done by unprofessional people in an unprofessional manner and with unsterilized needles. We do not know how many people must have suffered skin infections or some disease due to infected needles. Perhaps all this led to people being scared of tattooing, and it became a taboo.
However, in this modern age, we have highly professional artists, with sterile parlors and equipment who do a good job of tattooing. People go for tattooing as if they are going for a hair trimming. The internet clearly provides you all info about tattoo art, and how safe it is and how it is done and the fear of the unknown has disappeared. With most people having access to the internet tattooing is now no more a taboo. So you can now choose any tattoo you want, be it wrist Sanskrit tattoo designs or Chinese lettering or Japanese design or tribal designs.
The Hindu’s View on Tattoos
The Indians are still quite orthodox in such matters and tattoos though now accepted by many are still not as popular as in the west. The Hindus look upon the human body as God’s wonderful creation and feel it should not be modified in any way and never by words from the scriptures. However, the practice of piercing holes in the ears and nose for adorning jewelry was accepted from ancient times. And it is also true that with evolution, technological development, global village formula and exposure to other cultures, this outlook is gradually changing and tattoos are becoming more popular.
Most Popular Sanskrit Tattoos
Wrist Sanskrit Lettering Tattoo Designs
Sanskrit lettering Tattoos are best inked on the wrists. The word “Om” in Sanskrit is said to represent the all-powerful. The sound “Om” is used for “Pranayama” or deep breathing exercise which helps increased blood flow in your entire body. The Sanskrit language looks best written in thin lettering letter rather than using bold and thick lines. Hence you can search for a good saying in Sanskrit and ink it around your wrist like a bracelet. An example could be a Sanskrit saying “Sathyameva Jayathe” which translated means “Truth alone wins.“
A pink lotus which is called “the Padma” in Sanskrit and represents purity, spirituality and will power to face all turmoils is a good wrist Sanskrit tattoo design, just like a lotus whose roots are in dirty and filthy water and the flower blooms on the surface untouched by the filth.
Om: Padma Religious Lotus Tattoo
However, the Sanskrit words are still considered holy, and people who ink such lettering are expected to shave the hair off that area and keep it absolutely dirt free. The word “Om” is most common; “Hare Rama Hare Krishna” “Sathyameva Jayathe” is popular. Of course, people in other countries need not follow such strict rules like those in India.
There are a lot of beautiful proverbs in Sanskrit and lines from the two great epics, “Mahabharata” and “Ramayana” can provide you with hundreds of slokas/verses that will make great Sanskrit tattoo designs or you can choose something from the most revered “Bhagavadgita.“
Creative with Sanskrit Tattoos
Sanskrit alphabets lend themselves to a flow which can be incorporated within Celtic tattoos or any other tribal designs. Sanskrit tattoo designs can be worn like an armband around the biceps or at the wrist or around the ankle.
Sanskrit Tattoo Designs VS Kanji Tattoo Designs
Until recently or perhaps a few decades back tattoos were considered taboo for the ordinary people since it was seen as an identification mark stamped on gangsters, looters and all sorts of criminals. The only other people who wore tattoos were the soldiers and the sailors. However, all that has changed now, tattoos are a fashion statement, a body art and becoming more popular every day. There is no age bar, sex bar, religion bar or profession bar for tattooing. You find people belonging to all sections of the society inking a tattoo for various reasons.
So, why have the Sanskrit tattoo designs become so popular as against Chinese tattoos, Japanese Kanji designs, Hebrew or Arabic lettering? Well, you could perhaps say, it is just a phase. But whatever the reason Sanskrit tattoos are a current rage because of the thin and beautifully curved lettering with a line at the top which gives it defined look.
When you compare Chinese or Japanese lettering, you will see that they are blocky, thick lines. Of course, Chinese and Japanese lettering are so sophisticated that they can incorporate an entire poem in a few words. Poets are known to have written very meaningful poems with just a few words and some of them with double meaning too. However, all these intricacies are not appreciated by the public today who are not that adept at reading and understanding these languages.
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