There are many different types of tattoo designs, so why single out Sanskrit tattoo designs for special praise? What makes them better than dreamcatcher tattoo designs, for example? Because of these 5 reasons:

1. Sanskrit Has An Ancient History

Did you know that Sanskrit is one of the oldest languages on Earth, dating to before 1500 BC? Prominent language scholars like Heinrich Roth, Johann Ernst Hanxleden and Sir William Jones say that Sanskrit can be considered the Mother of all languages. Modern languages from the Indian subcontinent were derived from it, while many Asian and even modern European languages show its influence.

Not only does Sanskrit have a deep history, it even shares some advanced concepts in computer science. The Backus-Naur Form used to design modern computer languages has many parallels with the Sanskrit grammar defined by the ancient scholar, Panini. This grammar is the reason which keeps this language pure even after 3500 years.

2. Rich Mythologies Inspire Many Beautiful Designs

Much like Ancient Greek, Latin, and Norse, Sanskrit has a rich mythology. There are many stories of gods and great heroes, deeds of derring do, and legendary acts recorded in this language. For example, the Mahabharata has over 24,000 verses, making it one of the largest epic poems in the world. The Ramayana is two times bigger than both the Iliad and Odyssey combined. With such a wealth of mythology, it easily inspires many beautiful tattoo images.

If you love large, rich, complex tattoo designs like tigers, dragons and phoenix, why not think about creating a tattoo inspired by a scene from the Mahabharata or Ramayana?

3. Highly Spiritual/Mystic

Sanskrit was a language originally created for religion. Among the earliest religious texts in the world are the Sanskrit Vedas. The Vedas were later expanded into the Sutras (different from the Buddhist Sutras), then the Tantras, Shastra, Siddhanta and Jataka.

Even modern Indian companies, educational institutions and governments have created their mottoes by taking inspiring sayings from Sanskrit religious texts. For example:

• Life Insurance Corporation of India – Yogakshemam Vaha-myaham – “I shall take care of welfare” (taken from the Bhagavad Gita)
• Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology – Aa No Bhadra Kratavo Yanthu Vishvataha – “Let noble thoughts flow into your mind from all sides” (taken from the Rig Veda)

Take a page from these organizations and tattoo an inspirational saying from one of these ancient texts. If you are the spiritual or mystic sort, why not create a tattoo to call down the blessings of the gods on yourself?

4. Easy To Tattoo

Basic Sanskrit tattoo designs can be easy to create. The most popular images – the Trishula (Trident), Om, Padme (Lotus) – only need broad lines to shape them. The Sanskrit word tattoos are highly structured. You just need to etch the horizontal line on top, then the rest of the curved script beneath it.

5. Very Flexible

Sanskrit tattoo designs are very flexible. You can make armband tattoos, lower back tattoos, in memory tattoos, and much more.

For example, women might make lower back tattoos using the Lotus flower superimposed with the Om symbol while men may make a Trident tattoo on their biceps. If you do not like these images, why not use the Sanskrit written script to create your own tattoo designs? Armbands can be made as thin or thick as you like using various written Sanskrit alphabets.

I wonder what happened to good taste? I’ve been seeing more and more ugly tattoos lately, as well as the most outlandish piercings. Sure, I know that there have always been people with poor taste, but what I just saw was just plain ugly. A large blotchy tattoo covering half the face and the entire scalp and neck, as well pierced eyelids, pierced lips and pierced tongue. The tattoo itself was unrecognizable – more like someone threw paint on that youngster’s face. Whatever happened to traditional gorgeous designs like dragons, tigers and eagles, or the more modern tattoos based on ancient languages? For example, Sanskrit tattoo designs have a rich mythos and wealth of symbology which can be worked into astonishingly beautiful and elaborate designs. So, what are the top three Sanskrit tattoos?

Om Symbol

The Om symbol often appears in Sanskrit tattoo designs. This is not surprising, as it is the primary chant in many types of meditation which originate in the East. The sound Om is said to be one of the primal sounds which created the Universe. It both represents the three states of human consciousness (waking, dream and deep sleep) as well as the three main Hindu gods (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva).

In calligraphy, it is frequently written or drawn as Omkar, based on the form of Lord Ganesha, the Hindu elephant-headed God. There are four different parts – the upper curve represents the head, the large lower curve represents the belly, the side curve is the trunk, the semi-circle and dot are the sweetmeat ball held in the hand. This symbol represents the goal and Purpose of Life, the Truth of the world, the material world and the Sacred spiritual world, all that has form and all that is Formless.

Lotus Flower Together With The Om Symbol

The sacred lotus flower is called Padme in Sanskrit. This flower closes at night and sinks under the water, only to emerge in the morning to bloom again. For this reason, the ancient Hindus took the lotus as their symbol for the cycle of creation and destruction of the world. In the myth of Creation, in the same way that Brahma created the world, He was born from a lotus blossom springing from the navel of the god Vishnu.

In tattoos, the lotus flower is often drawn in a stylized manner, much like the bright, colorful Mandalas which Hindus draw on the floor for their religious celebrations. Many Sanskrit tattoo designs actually combine the Om and Padme (lotus) symbols together in various ways. Sometimes you see them superimposed, other times you see one on top of the other.

Lord Shiva’s Trident Symbol

Lord Shiva’s three-pronged trident is another popular image in tattoos. In Sanskrit, it is known as Trishula. Like much of Sanskrit symbology, it represents several trinities of ideas. The Trishula could represent the cycle of creation, maintenance and destruction of the worlds. It could equally mean the past, present and future.

For those who practice Kundalini Yoga meditation, the Trishula is a symbol of the three main energy channels of the human body coming together at the brow.

Given that Shiva cut off Ganesha’s original head with the Trishula, it is probably wise not to use this symbol together with the Omkar.

It is not important for you to know the meanings of all those Sanskrit symbols used in your tattoos, but don’t you think that it makes your tattoo art a lot more interesting? After all, just treating your Sanskrit tattoo designs as just a piece of nice-looking visual body art is rather boring, isn’t it?

Getting a new tattoo for yourself? Try Sanskrit tattoo designs. Why? Because Sanskrit is a very ancient language. It came from India and spread to the rest of the world, becoming the root of a number of modern languages. Now, Sanskrit itself is a dead language, only used in Hindu religious texts in India. If you think antiques and other ancient stuff are cool and interesting, you will definitely like these designs on your skin.

Here are three reasons why you should get Sanskrit tattoos:

1) They are popular, appearing on a number of Hollywood celebrities. Alyssa Milano has been seen with an Om tattoo on her wrist while Jessica Alba has a lotus blossom. Sanskrit tattoo designs are a great addition to the list of popular tattoos for women.

Permanent bracelets using Sanskrit characters are increasing in popularity. Some people like to use just the symbol Om around their wrist. Others prefer something that serves as a protective charm, for example “Om Jraam Jreem Jroum Sah Gurave Namaha” for achieving success in all things and general protection in all matters.

2) Sanskrit tattoo designs have a very deep meaning behind them.

For example, Om is said to be the sound which the Hindu God of Creation, Brahma, uttered to create the world.

Lotus flowers, too, are linked to the creation of the world. Because they rise from the water every morning to bloom, then close and sink underwater at night, they symbolize the cycle of creation and destruction of the world. The blooming lotus flower represents Brahma uttering the Om to create the world, while the closing of the flower represents the destruction of the world by Shiva.

This is one reason why the design of a lotus flower with a super-imposed Om symbol is so popular.

3) Sanskrit tattoo designs are beautiful.

The elegant curves of the Sanskrit alphabet, and the way the horizontal bar on top of each alphabet links up to each other makes a very beautiful design. The great age of the Sanskrit language, and its use for recording great myths and legends like the Mahabharata and Baghavadgita, also gives Sanskrit a depth and wealth of symbols to inspire many beautiful tattoos.

Overall, Sanskrit tattoo designs are popular and accessible, have great depth of meaning, and beautiful. Sanskrit tattoos are a great addition to your collection, and also good if you only want one tattoo. This is also good if you are just trying out your first tattoo, and want to get something inconspicuous. Other good designs for first-timers are small Celtic crosses, flowers, roses and hearts.

All around the world, people use tattoos to show that they belong to a special group, be it the soldiers, sailors, gangs or even aboriginal tribes. Nowadays, though, tattoos have also shown up among young people, as an expression of individuality. There are several popular designs, among them Sanskrit tattoo designs, dreamcatcher tattoos, Celtic crosses and tribal designs.

You can find people with tattoos in any of the First World nations – North America, Europe, Japan. These are all societies with a well-developed culture of fine arts, contributing to the creation of both tattoo artists as well as customers who appreciate fine tattoos.

Tattoos have gone in and out of fashion many times, but most recently they have seen a resurgence – led by popular celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. While Pitt started off as a “bad boy” actor, he seems to have been tamed by Jolie’s passion for rescuing Third World orphans.

When you get a tattoo, it is important not only to select your perfect design but also to plan where you want to place it. For example, a dragon tattoo needs a large area – like your entire back – to fully show its glory. Whereas dreamcatcher tattoo designs tend to be smaller and more subtle. You might place them between the junction of neck and shoulder. But what about Sanskrit tattoo designs? Well, depending on your design, there are three different places which are popular: wrist, lower back and arm.

Wrist

The wrist is a popular place to ink your Sanskrit tattoo designs. The horizontal lines of Sanskrit characters link up nicely to form a permanent bracelet. While there are other popular designs for the wrist, for example Chinese and Japanese Kanji characters, they are not as elegant as Sanskrit tattoo designs. Armband tattoos using tribal designs are a rival for Sanskrit permanent bracelets, but they are usually thicker. Ultimately, which one you get would depend on your personal preference and the skill of your tattoo artist.

Arm

Your arm is another good place to put your tattoos. A well-toned bicep together with the right tattoo design can really work wonders. However, you need to be careful to choose a design which does not become distorted when you flex your biceps. One of the best Sanskrit tattoo designs for your arm is the Trishula, or trident. It is the chosen weapon of the Hindu god Shiva, who destroys the world so that Brahma can re-create it in more perfect form. The Trishula is said to embody power and authority.

Lower Back

Lower back tattoos are more popular with women than with men. Peeping out from low-cut jeans, they can be irresistably sexy. Over here, the best Sanskrit tattoo designs would be the Om super-imposed on the lotus flower. The lotus flower symbolizes the cycle of creation and destruction in Hindu mythology, while mystics and spiritualists consider Om to be one of the primal sounds of creation.

Other popular tattoos for the lower back are the dreamcatcher tattoo designs, heart designs, flowers and Celtic crosses. You might want to avoid placing your tattoo over the spine, as some people report that inking tattoos here can be painful. This is one reason that many women have their lower back tattoos offset to the right or left side.

Remember to plan for location when you get your Sanskrit tattoo designs. Avoid bony areas, which can be painful for some people. Make sure the particular design you choose fits your personality and does not go against the essence of your character. If you have any doubts, consult your tattoo artist to make sure your preferred designs are suitable for your chosen placement.

Sanskrit tattoo designs are more and more popular in this decade’s pop culture. We are seeing more celebrities sporting Sanskrit tattoos somewhere on their bodies. With all this new found popularity, many tattoo shops have now added tattoo images based on the Sanskrit language to their portfolios. Have you ever wondered what you would look like with one of these beautiful and elegant tattoos?

So, what are the most popular tattoo designs right now? If you drop in to visit your local tattoo artist, he will probably tell you Sanskrit tattoo designs and dreamcatcher tattoo designs as well as the old classics like tribal tattoos and celtic cross tattoos. Successful tattoo shops always listen to what their customers want, and what their customers want nowadays are Sanskrit tattoos. Tattoo shops give three reasons why the public wants tattoos in Sanskrit.

Dead Language

Sanskrit is dead in the sense that the public no longer uses it for normal daily conversation. A living language changes and evolves over time. In the past 100 years, how many English words no longer have the same meaning or have become extinct?

In a dead language, the meanings of words remain the same, whether it is today or 100 years from now. Hence using Sanskrit for tattoo designs is perfect – today, tomorrow, 10 years in the future – what you inked on your skin will mean the same thing. This is the same reason biologists use Latin for scientific names of living things.

Easily Recognized

Sanskrit tattoo designs are very recognizable. When you pass a tattoo shop, your eyes will easily pick it out from the hundreds of different designs on display. For this eye catching reason, Sanskrit script and images are easily kept in memory. Tattoo designs in Sanskrit often feature either the Om symbol or some form of the lotus flower.

Om represents the universe. In Hinduism and Buddhism, it is very popular as part of a meditation chant.

The lotus flower symbolizes purity of the heart, mind and soul. Among the superstitious, it is also believed to bring good luck and prosperity to the owner.

A Timeless Design

When you look at different designs in Sanskrit, you will find many elements in common. This is because many Sanskrit designs include some common themes. Sanskrit characters have a horizontal line on top which joins them together while the bottom is elegantly curved. A well executed tattoo in Sanskrit is a feast for your eyes. Many people get these tattoos around their wrists, neck or arms.

For all these reasons, Sanskrit tattoo designs became popular and will remain popular for a long time to come. As time passes, tattoo artists will undoubtedly come up with even more creative and elaborate designs. If you have ever wondered how you would look like with a Sanskrit tattoo, why not try out a temporary tattoo?

Why Sanskrit tattoo designs? Why not Hebrew or Arabic tattoo designs? Or tattoos in other old languages? Right now, the only competitor to Sanskrit is Chinese/Japanese words used in tattoos.

So why is Sanskrit so popular in tattoo designs? Partly due to the whims and vagaries of fashion, and partly because it looks elegant. Consider the flowing curves joined by horizontal lines at the top. This makes them natural for tattoo designs. Armband tattoos, even tribal tattoos can be designed from Sanskrit words.

Compared to Sanskrit, Chinese/Japanese words tend to look blocky. They just do not flow as well. Mind you, they can represent very complex ideas in very few words. Ancient Chinese and Japanese aristocrats created beautiful and complex poems with just a few words. The most witty of them could create poems with more than one meaning. Unfortunately, all this richness of ideas is lost in the modern world today, where almost no one has the necessary depth of literary and artistic education to appreciate poetic tattoos inked in Chinese/Japanese.

It is no wonder that Sanskrit tattoo designs beat out their Chinese/Japanese counterparts, especially in this part of the world – they just look too darned good!

How Do Indian Religious Authorities View Sanskrit Tattoo Designs?

Like practitioners of other major religions, Hindus look at the human body as a creation of God which should not be defaced with tattoos and piercings. And definitely not using holy scripts.

But while the holy man condemns such mistreatment of the human body, the society around him often has different ideas. Even in India, the home of Sanskrit, piercings in the form of ear rings and nose studs are common, especially for women. While Sanskrit tattoo designs are not widely flaunted, they are present. Rules have even appeared on how these tattoos should be maintained.

For the modern Hindu who wants to sport a Sanskrit tattoo, the area he chooses to place it must be stripped of hair. This area of flesh must never be touched by dirt.

How Does The Public View Sanskrit Tattoo Designs?

Well, in India, tattoos inked in Sanskrit are becoming more widely accepted. You can now see people with one or two religious symbols inked as a tattoo on their flesh. The most popular of the tattoo images is the Om symbol.

Fortunately, the rest of us are not in India. So we are not subject to the same strict set of rules regarding tattoo placement as the Hindus.

A Sanskrit tattoo design quoting one of the stanzas from the Mahabharata or Bhagavad Gita epics sure looks very impressive. If you understand the real meaning of your tattoo, it can help to inspire you when you are striving to overcome some obstacles in your life.

Like any other fashion fad, tattoos come and go. Today, the time for tattoos has come again. The sleeve tattoos in tribal designs of yester-year is out of fashion, relegated to punks and rebels. Fashionable tattoos today are more subtle and spiritual, like Sanskrit tattoo designs.

Sanskrit is the origin of many modern languages in South Asia, East Asia and South East Asia. According to Sir William Jones, the noted 18th century philologist, Sanskrit, ancient Greek and Latin all share a common root. Sanskrit script is horizontal in nature, with a bar on top and many curved edges. It is elegant and perfect for artistic rendering. You can have a single word like “Om” (often interpreted as universal peace in modern spiritual writings) in lower back tattoos, or a motto (like “Satyameva Jayate” – “Truth alone triumphs”) in an armband tattoos.

Do you have someone you would like to remember forever? Translate his or her name into Sanskrit and have it inked into your “in memory” tattoo design. It is more unique than using our everyday Roman alphabet, and you do not have to make any awkward explanations to your future boyfriend or girlfriend why you have someone else’s name tattooed on your buttocks.

One of the major religions in the world, Hinduism, uses Sanskrit for its religious texts. Another major religion, Buddhism, also has religious texts in Sanskrit (Although it mostly uses Pali). If you want to commemorate some wonderful event or miracle in your life, why not do it using Sanskrit tattoo designs. Of course, if you are Christian, using Latin in your “in memory” tattoo design is perfectly fine too.

The oldest surviving Hindu religious text is the Rig Veda, written in Sanskrit, dated to 1500 BC. Two other great Hindu epics exist – the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Sanskrit tattoo designs using some of the magnificent verses from these ancient writings would make a great conversation piece. So would using some of the beautiful “sutra” Buddhist verses, written in Pali or Sanskrit. Tattoos like these are ideal for someone more spiritually inclined.

Sanskrit tattoo designs make for a beautiful alternative to other popular tattoo images like the celtic cross or flower tattoos.

Today, the cycle has turned once more and tattoo designs are back in fashion for the common man (and woman). No longer is it limited to punks and the seamier side of society. More subtle designs like Sanskrit tattoo designs and small celtic cross tattoos are now in favor.

Regardless of whether you are the spiritual and religious type, or an art and history lover, having a lower back tattoo in Sanskrit makes for an interesting topic of conversation – linguists believe that Sanskrit is the origin of all modern languages. Unlike modern languages like English, Sanskrit words have precise meanings. They are not subject to ambiguous interpretations. Sanskrit is dated back to 1500 BC. The oldest surviving example of Sanskrit is the Indian religious text, the Rig Veda.

Given its precise meanings, Sanksrit makes a good in memory tattoo design – a wonderful symbol of your adoration for a beloved wife or husband. Translate your lover’s name into Sanskrit and have a tattoo artist turn it into an in memory tattoo design for you.

Not a Christian, but want to thank some Higher Power for a miracle that happened in your life? Why not try a commemoration in Sanskrit? It is, after all, used in two of the major religions in the world today, Hinduism and Buddhism. What could be more appropriate, than to send your thanks to the divine in a divine language?

If you are a history buff, a lover of all things ancient, Sanskrit tattoo designs are for you. The Sanskrit language is ancient – its relationship to the languages of South Asia, East Asia and South East Asia similar to the relationship between Greek and Latin to English and other modern European languages. Sir William Jones, the father of comparative linguistics and Indo-European studies, asserted in 1786 that Sanskrit, ancient Greek and Latin have too much in common and must logically have originated from the same ancient source.

Sanskrit script is horizontal in nature, yet with many flowing curves. It is perfect for artistic rendering and is flexible enough to be inked as an armband tattoo or something else more elaborate. Sanskrit tattoo designs are a beautiful and elegant alternative to celtic cross tattoos.

For much of Western history, only men had tattoos. But this is the modern age of women’s equality – anything a man can do, so can a woman. More and more women are starting to get tattoos. Lower back tattoos are especially popular. Peeking out from under the jeans or bikini, both men and women find them exceptionally sexy.

There are many tattoo ideas for girls – flower tattoo designs are the most popular for the lower back. However, other subtle and delicate tattoo images are also starting to gain in popularity, for example Sanskrit tattoo designs and dreamcatcher tattoo designs.

Sanskrit Tattoo Designs For The Lower Back

Creative tattoo artists have fused the popular flower tattoos with Sanskrit tattoo designs to create some very beautiful, stylish images. The lotus flower, together with the “Om” symbol are starting to become popular.

Lotus flowers are important symbols in India. They close every night and sink under the water, then re-emerge the next morning to bloom again. The lotus flower is symbolic of the cycle of creation and destruction of the world. It also signifies the purity of one’s heart, mind and soul.

In the Hindu creation myth, the god of Creation, Brahma was born from a lotus blossom which sprang from the navel of Vishnu, the god who maintains and preserves the world. Brahma and Vishnu are two of the three highest gods, the Trimurti. Shiva is the third, the god of Destruction.

The Om symbol has long been used as the prime chant in many systems of meditation. Mystics and spiritualists consider Om to be one of the primal sounds of Creation.

When used together with the Om symbol in Sanskrit tattoo designs, the lotus flower is often drawn in a stylized manner, mainly inked in shades of blue, red and orange.

Dreamcatcher Tattoo Designs

Like Sanskrit tattoos, the dreamcatcher tattoo is a modern adaptation of an ancient, cultural tradition. The dreamcatcher comes from the American Indian tribe of the Chippewa, who tie strands of sinew in a web-like design around a small round or teardrop shaped frame. They hang the dreamcatcher as a charm to protect young children from nightmares.

Dreamcatcher tattoo designs first became popular in the pan-Indian movement of the 1960’s and 70’s, then went out of fashion. Today, these beautiful and delicate designs are making their comeback.

Lower Back Tattoos

Lower back tattoo designs are usually placed in the small of the back or on the upper part of the buttocks. When choosing the small of the back, some women prefer to have smaller tattoos offset to one side, avoiding the bony area of the spine. Many people find that tattoos around the spine sting more than tattoo in more fleshy areas of the body.

Women who are shy should avoid getting tattoos in the upper buttock area. The tattoo artist needs room to work, so the recipient cannot wear any underwear.

Flowers, especially roses, and tribal tattoo designs are still very popular for mid-sized lower back tattoos. Besides Sanskrit designs and dreamcatchers, the Celtic cross is also becoming popular with women.

Are you looking for an interesting and uncommon tattoo design? Have you looked at Sanskrit tattoo designs? These beautiful designs are not just for religious or spiritual persons. Some celebrities have been seen with one or two Sanskrit tattoo designs tattooed on them.

Unlike tribal tattoo designs, Sanskrit tattoo designs tend to be more discreet. For example, ladies can get the “Om” symbol or a lotus flower tattooed on their lower back. Other popular Sanskrit images and symbols are the Trishula (trident) and the lotus flower with Om symbol. You can get these tattoos in different colors and arrangements.

Some of you may prefer word tattoos. Have you thought about using Sanskrit instead of plain old English? You can find websites to translate your favorite quotes into Sanskrit. Instead of an armband tattoo showing your favorite quote in English, try an armband tattoo showing that same quote in Sanskrit. Some linguists believe that Sanskrit is the mother of all languages – that you can still see the influence of Sanskrit on modern languages.

Translation from English to any other language, even Sanskrit, is as simple as 1-2-3. Just go to the website, enter your favorite quote and click the “Submit” button. Some websites can translate to more than one language, so you may need to choose your target language before submitting your request. Many people find it difficult to remember the translations in memory. Tattoo designs like these can be difficult to transcribe. It is better to print out the screen, or capture the image as a screenshot.

Modern life is very convenient. You can now find Sanskrit tattoo designs online with downloadable images. Just print out the tattoo on a color printer and show it to a nearby tattoo shop to get it done. If you prefer to create your own tattoos, just visit the galleries of tattoo online websites for inspiration. You can also go to websites like TattooFinder, BullseyeTattoos and TattooJohnny – they have a search engine which you can use to find various tattoo images like dreamcatcher tattoo designs, Japanese and Arabic letters.

You can do more than just look for tattoo images. On the better tattoo websites, you can also find a lot of other information. You can find out about different styles of tattoos. You can find different versions of the same tattoo image. You can learn where most people place their tattoos, and why. For example, why are lower back tattoos so popular with young women?

Don’t limit yourself to tattoo websites. Visit tattoo forums as well. Avid tattoo practitioners and tattoo hobbyists come together at these membership sites to talk about tattoos. They ask each other for advice, and show off their own designs. You can ask the forum members to recommend a good tattoo parlor near where you stay. Hang around these forums and you might even pick up some very cool Sanskrit tattoo designs you cannot find anywhere else.