Today, Indian tattoos are popular all over the world, both “temporary” henna patterns and real tattoos made in the style of Hindu culture. These patterns, mandalas, images of deities, inscriptions in mysterious Sanskrit - everything is so beautiful and unusual that everyone will ask you, what does this mean? So if you like attention to yourself, Indian style will definitely suit you.
Indian style Ganesha tattoo on shoulder
History of Indian Tattoos
They are mainly worn by women and girls.
However, with time, they have also moved into modern tattoo art and henna designs are not the only thing you get in the Indian tattoo segment. There are various other symbols and images that are worn in beautiful patterns and appearances. Indian gods, tribal faces of men and women and sacred symbols are extremely popular among the people. Some people wear it simply as a sign of pride in their culture, while others wear it for aesthetic reasons or because they are fascinated by the arts and culture of the country. These tattoos have a distinct appearance and are quite attractive.
Popular all over the world, they have also been decorated by celebrities. Victoria and David Beckham's tattoo in Hindi is a great example, and there are many more. Below is a list of 30 Indian tattoos that will give you more details and information about them. Take a look.
Traditional Indian tattoos.
Since ancient times, Indian tattoos have had hidden meanings. They protected their carriers, attracted good luck and helped in finding spiritual balance. Every family had secrets of tattooing. They were improved and passed on from generation to generation, turning into a recognizable clan painting.
The most popular and widespread techniques for applying patterns in India are mehndi (mehendi) and tilak. Mehendi tattoo is a masterly body painting with liquid henna. The technique dates back to ancient times and was first used in wedding ceremonies, when preparing the bride. The main motifs of mehendi are still floral patterns, symbolizing vitality and fertility.
Unlike mehndi, talaqa has a deeper spiritual meaning. The images are painted onto the skin with red clay, ash or sacred oil. Drawings in this technique are more bulky and concise. A striking example of tilaka is the bindi - the red dot on the forehead of Indian women.
Henna
Indian henna tattoos typically feature delicate floral designs. They look beautiful and are very different from typical American flower tattoos. They are not too feminine and have a more regal appearance. Such tattoos are placed on the forearm in the arm area. The advantage of this image is that it will look spectacular on any skin tone.
Peculiarities:
- Best suited for women.
- It is preferable to use black or colored ink, which will look elegant and aesthetically pleasing.
- The tattoo will look great if placed on the back or side of the lower abdomen.
- This tattoo will look great in a large size.
Matriarchy in the world of tattoos.
India is the only country where tattooing was regarded as a sign of beauty and therefore was initially considered an exclusively female prerogative. The first body paintings were found on the skin of Indian beauties who lived several thousand years ago. The fashion of that time included decoration of the body, hands and even the face.
Only noble ladies could afford to decorate their bodies with patterns. This is explained by the fact that Indian women sought to identify themselves with the wife of the god Krishna, who is considered the ancestor of tattoos. The tattoo, in a sense, was supposed to emphasize the extraterrestrial purpose of the beauty.
Men's tattoos also took place. They were applied mainly to the back and served to determine class affiliation.
Feather Tattoos
This is one of the most common tattoos of Indian origin.
Feather tattoos are mostly worn by women and can be inked on any part of the body. Most often, girls choose designs of peacock feathers; this bird is considered national in Indian culture, as well as one of the most attractive birds in the world. It is not often that a parrot, dove or crow feather design is chosen.
This tattoo design will look great on a woman's body but can also be worn on a man's body. There are many male tattoo lovers who love feather and bird designs as body art. The best areas for drawing feathers are the arms or legs.
- Best suited for both men and women.
- Preferable ink: black and colored.
- It will look great if placed on your hands.
- This tattoo will look great in medium to large sizes.
- Skin Tone: Will match both dark and light skin tones.
Right hand of Shiva
Often in a tattoo, special attention is paid to the right hand of the god. It is Shiva’s right hand that he uses to cleanse the Universe of energy debris. With this hand he blesses people and rids the world of evil spirits.
If a person has a hot temper and finds it difficult to establish contact with others, a tattoo with Shiva will have a calming effect on the psyche and helps its owner to concentrate. If the tattoo is used as a talisman, it is better to tattoo it in closed areas, since sacred symbols should not be open to everyone.
The Hindu deity should not be stuffed below the waist, as this is where the strongest chakras are located. Also, such behavior can be regarded as an insult to higher powers, and the consequences of this tattoo may not be predictable. Tattoos should be taken very seriously.
Indian Om tattoos
The most sacred and famous Indian words: the word "Om". Om is commonly used during meditation throughout the world to calm the nerves and relax the body. In India it is used as a prayer call to the Great Lord Shiva. The design with Om written in Devanagari language is considered to be a common Indian tattoo design.
- Best suited for men.
- Preferred ink: black or colored.
- It will look great if you put it on your hands.
- This tattoo will look great in a large size.
- Will match dark and light skin tones.
Sketches options.
Although images made with henna are considered traditional, in the modern world Indian tattoo designs are presented in a wide variety and compete with many styles. The most common ones are:
- Ancient gods: Shiva, Ganesha, Krishna, multi-armed Kali, Vishnu, Brahma, Lakshmi and others;
- Mantra OM. Indians believe that this sound came to earth, overcoming the vastness of the Universe;
- Mandala. Today there are a great many varieties of this element, but the meaning of the mandala tattoo remains unchanged: purification, harmony, connection with cosmic forces;
- Hamsa or hand of god. Sometimes it is supplemented with an open eye in the center of the palm;
- Lotus. Performed solo or paired with a deity. This is one of the most positive symbols that bestows peace and prosperity;
- Dream Catcher. A very popular and effective tattoo, which also protects against evil spirits;
- The feather of the Peacock (or firebird) is considered one of the incarnations of Buddha. They get such a tattoo to attract happiness;
- Indian paisley is also one of the sought after ethnic patterns. In addition to the aesthetic component, it will become a talisman for the wearer, attracting good luck and prosperity.
Any Indian tattoo is a talisman that protects its owner and gives him the blessing of the ancient gods.
Religious tattoos
Hindus are one of the most religious people in the world, which is why many Indians choose gods as their body image.
Interestingly, different types of gods are worshiped in different parts of India.
Some Hindus prefer astrological tattoos and choose designs of the zodiac sign.
- Best suited for men.
- Preferred ink: orange and blue colored ink.
- It will look great if placed on your arms and chest.
- This tattoo will look great in a large size.
- Skin Tone: Will match fair skin tone.
Shiva: meaning
Shiva is translated differently in different interpretations. There are the following decodings of this word: “the god who brings joy”, “the good all-forgiving god”, “the one who gives light”. Shiva's main task is to destroy and liberate the old for the new.
Every 85 thousand years, God completely destroys the Universe in order to create it anew. The meaning of this action is to cleanse the world of old ideas and thoughts and revive it again. A tattoo with Shiva signifies flexibility of thinking and the ability of the owner of the tattoo to objectively assess events occurring in the world. Owners of such body patterns do not have harsh judgments, do not think in stereotypes, and do not become attached to things and people.
The main meaning of the tattoo is to belong to a religion. Shiva is one of the main gods of Hinduism and is worshiped by over 800 million people. It performs an important function in the Universe. Shiva does not have the task of eliminating what can still be beneficial. He cleanses the world of things and beliefs that have become obsolete, so he can be called the god of purity.
Indian elephant tattoo design
A beautiful Indian tattoo design usually includes an outline of the object that is filled with intricate patterns to make it more complex. If you are a big lover of elephants or want to represent the strength and loyalty that they symbolize, then this is a great choice for you.
Both men and women can get this small Indian tattoo, but it suits women better on their forearms or neck. Looks good on any skin tone.
- Best suited for women.
- Preferred colors: dark and light shades of black.
- Can be placed on the wrist or forearm.
- Size: Will look cute in a small size.
- Skin Tone: Will look good on dark to fair skin tones.
Dancing Shiva
You can often find a tattoo with a dancing god. In fact, this is his natural state. As long as Shiva's dance continues, peace and order reign in the world. As soon as God stops dancing, chaos arises in the Universe. Therefore, dancing Shiva symbolizes constant movement. A tattoo means that to live a full life a person must constantly move. The Universe does not like dead energy and stagnation. This body pattern is suitable for energetic people who are constantly developing and discovering new facets in themselves.
Sketches of hieroglyphs and their meaning
The big advantage of this type of tattoo is its simplicity. Almost any adequate master will cope with this task. This fact allows you to save a lot of money on a tattoo artist.
Thus, the price of a tattoo is greatly reduced.
But there is also a big minus. You can easily make a mistake in writing a hieroglyph. Especially when there are several of them, making up the whole inscription. You can make a mistake with translation in the same way. There are a huge number of photos of tattoos on the Internet, where the meaning differs from what was intended.
Many people don’t know, but most hieroglyph tattoos are Chinese and Japanese. There is very little demand for Korean ones. And in Korea itself, tattoos are viewed negatively.
Chinese with translation
The most common hieroglyphs in tattoos are Chinese.
By the way, many people classify Arabic symbols (for example, Egyptian) as hieroglyphs, although this is not entirely correct.
Force
Death
Calm
Happiness
Luck
Success
Wealth
Great happiness
Loyalty
Eternal love
Money
Health
Snake
Abundance
Fulfillment of desires
beauty
Love
World
Sea
Courage
Independence
Fire
Victory
Prosperity
Japanese with translation
In second place in popularity are Japanese characters. Japan is very fond of tattoos, they even have their own tattoo style of the same name.
Shine
Happiness
Tiger
Luck
Flower
Fabulous
Spring
The Dragon
Friendship
Spirit
Winter
Sincerity Beauty Leopard
Summer
Moonlight
Love
Dream
World
Hope
Autumn
Flight
Rose
Sakura
Execution style
When a tattoo is associated with a particular religion, you should not experiment with styles. Any sketch is like an icon that cannot be mocked. The tattoo should be done as close as possible to the original, respect the proportions and not distort the details. Classic style and realism are suitable for this.
Tattoos are best done on a large scale, so the best places to apply them are the back, arm or shoulder.
