Sanskrit is an ancient language dated to 1500 BC. While not actually dead, it has been reserved for religious use for many centuries. However, this language has lately seen renewed interest in the form of Sanskrit tattoo designs. Sanskrit tattoos are very flexible and can be found anywhere on the body. The wrist, biceps, shoulders and lower back are some of the most popular places to find these beautiful tattoo images.
Are Sanskrit tattoo designs a recent Western phenomenon, or did the ancient Indians already have such tattoos? On the surface, it seems unlikely because Hinduism bans tattoos – much the same case as any other major religion, actually. But we also know that many other ancient cultures also made tattoos taboo – but they still infiltrated those societies. The Greeks, Romans, Japanese and Chinese come to mind. In addition, henna temporary tattoos have been a part of life in India and the Middle East for many centuries, often used by women during celebrations.
Surveys done in the US suggest that 17% of the population have a tattoo. Obviously, this number would be bigger among the younger generation. While you still wouldn’t expect a banker or lawyer to have a tattoo, you can’t really tell what he has hidden under that suit, can you?
How Tattoos Become Popular
There are several reasons why tattoos have become popular. In the past, the tattooing process was not very hygienic and often took place in a disreputable looking dive. One look at the stained needles and chain-smoking bearded tattoo johnny and most prospective customers run away. Now you have clean-cut tattoo artists in brightly lit studios doing the job. When you step in, you will see autoclaves and other gleaming pieces of technology for sterilizing the tattoo equipment. The artist appears thoroughly professional and uses new needles for each customer. The experience of getting a tattoo becomes indistinguishable from that of getting a hair cut or beauty makeover.
The internet is another big reason. It lets people find out anything. People can find out about the actual tattooing process and are no longer subject to fear, uncertainty and doubt. They can make up their minds beforehand, whether or not a tattoo is right for them, what kind of tattoo to get – Sanskrit tattoos, Celtic crosses, tribal tattoos, etc.
As always, whenever something in society changes, Hollywood plays a part. People see movie stars with tastefully done tattoos and the perception starts changing. No longer are tattoos inextricably linked to punks and gangsters. Certainly not when the newspapers feature superstar Angelina Jolie on their front page saving yet another orphan child and showing off her tattoos. Other Hollywood stars with tattoos are Jessica Alba with a Sanskrit lotus flower tattoo on her wrist and Gillian Anderson with a Sanskrit word tattoo saying “everyday”.
Wrist Tattoos In Sanskrit
In general, wrist tattoos don’t give you much room to work. Space is a bit limited – you can only have a tattoo on top, on the inside or encircling your wrist.
For a tattoo going around your whole wrist, the best Sanskrit tattoo designs choose a single symbol and repeat it. Sanskrit symbols are really good for this – most of them have a bar on top and are curved below. That means you can link up all the bars into a slim armband or permanent bracelet.
For the top of your wrist or the inside of your wrist, an Om symbol looks good. Sanskrit is actually a spoken language, so it has several different writing systems. In most of these writing systems, Om looks pretty darn cool – and it is a powerful mystic symbol as well. Om is one of the sounds which created the universe, and the written symbol for Om also represents the Hindu God Wisdom and Success, Ganesha.
Another popular alternative to Om is the Sanskrit lotus flower, Padma. This is a brightly colored symbolic image that looks like a Mandala. Padma represents both death and rebirth as well as rising up above the madding crowd.
You have many different choices of Sanskrit tattoo designs for your wrist. What you pick is a reflection of your spirit and sense of fashion.