A few days back on respected Professor Rajendraji’s post @Veerite, in response to a WP prompt on tattoos, a long conversation ensued with dear blogger, Nusrat @Her Daily Doses, which spun me into research mode on the subject in the Indian context.
What I found was interesting and shareworthy.
Tattooing is deeply embedded in the socio-cultural fabric of India since ancient times. It’s called by various names in different regions like godna in North of India and panchakuthar, pachutra or trajva in South of India.
Traditional tattoos have served as identity markers, rites of passage, protective talismans, social status, indicator of military prowess and even as spiritual symbols particularly in tribal and rural communities.
The origin of tattooing can be traced back to the Indus Valley Civilization (3300–1300 BCE). References to it are also found in Vedic literature. It’s a traditional practice among the Bhil, Gond, Santhal, Baiga, Apatani, Wancho and Konyak tribal communities.
In Baiga (Central India) women were known for extensive body tattoos which were believed to be the only adornments carried into the afterlife.
Symbols such as the trident (trishul), Om, and depictions of deities like Shiva and Kali used in tattoos expressed devotion as per Hundu tradition.
In certain communities, women tattooed visible parts of their bodies as safeguards from unwarranted male advances and kidnapping by enemy tribes.
In various rural areas, tattoos were believed to possess medicinal or protective properties. Specific designs were considered to be curative and protection against evil spirits. For example, ear tattoos (karna godna) were considered remedies for headaches and earaches.
In rural South and among Devadasis (woman “married” to a temple deity – the practice is now banned) auspicious symbols were tattooed during religious ceremonies.
Traditionally, sharpened thorns, needles with pigments derived from soot, ash, plant extracts were used for tattooing. Procedures were painful and performed without anaesthesia. The craft was passed down through generations of female tattooists, known as godharins.
Tattooing traditions declined significantly during the 20th century due to urbanization, modernization, and changing social attitudes.
However, in the late 19th Century, in Chhattisgarh (East India), the lower-caste communities considered to be “untouchables”, and hence barred from entering Hindu temples and using public wells, used tattoos as an act of religious and social rebellion against the beliefs of caste purity. They tattooed “Rama” (name of Hindu God) across their entire bodies implying that they were carrying their place of worship with them everywhere.
Contemporary urban Indians use tattoos as body art denoting self ownership against conservative familial expectations, religious proscriptions and traditional ideas of bodily purity.
(Source: Wikipedia)
I think the Sanskrit Onkar symbol would make a cool tattoo, but since I’m Christian, I wouldn’t get one. No disrespect to other traditions.
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I have seen the onkar symbol on many perhaps as a religious symbol.
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I’ve seen it in Tibetan Buddhism. It’s supposed to represent the four states of wakefulness. But I’m so very often somnolent myself. 😀
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You won’t believe but I always go off to sleep (snoring included) while meditating. Swami Sarvapriyanandaji says that’s a sign of acute mental and physical exhaustion. While Swami Yoganandaji says in one of his poems that the ‘soul marches on’. I don’t know whether my soul is evolving when I am in deep sleep during meditation. 😂
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Well, we can have moments of lucidity even while sleeping. So maybe it’s not so bad? 😀
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Again if the intent is good there is no disrespect to any symbol be it religious or spiritual belonging to some other culture. In short, you can go ahead with the tattoo with the Om or Onkar symbol as long as you value it’s significance. 😊
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Very interesting information. Though I’m not sure, but I think tattoos are very favored in Islam.
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Aren’t * 😅
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Its basically a tribal and rural practice Sadje. Many educated Indian families don’t favour it. But with Millennials and GenZ it’s a fad. However, some use it with restraint and some go overboard. Personally, I don’t like it. It’s unhealthy and unnecessarily painful.
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My thoughts exactly. It’s painful and messy. Also the pigment in the tattoo stops people from getting MRI.
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Oh! I did not know that one. Thanks 🙏
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I know because it can be a problem while doing investigations.
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Very interesting. Thank you for this.
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You are most welcome Esther.
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That is the benefit of having a curious blogger friend,Geeta Di.Thank You for researching and providing us so much information about tattoos.
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Thanks a ton Nusrat for reading and your kind appreciation. Indebted as always
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How a tribal culture has become a gen Z fashion 😀😀!
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Exactly. Fashion rolls in and out
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It takes passion and courage to wear our beliefs on our bodies. This is an interesting post, Geeta.
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Thank you very much Mary and you are so right.
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An interesting read. I’ve considered getting a tattoo for many years, but have never been able to decide on what I want. It’s a permanent decision, so I don’t want to make it lightly! 🙂
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Thank you so much. Hope you may soon be able to take that crucial decision 😉
Jokes apart I understand your keenness towards a tattoo from the perspective of an artist.
They are symbolic but as I have chronicled they have never been seen from the standpoint of aesthetics.
I wonder what your your views will be since you are a painter, photographer as well as a poet.
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An informative post. I respect all who likes tattoos and it seems that this is part of the culture for some places.
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I think the practice of tattooing emerged as a necessity. But the most interesting part is that they were never considered an instrument of beautification and fashion but have over a period of time emerged and deemed so.
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Interesting to note that tattoos in the Indian subcontinent are so old. I remember seeing a lot of old women in Southern India with tattooed arms and I used to wonder at the fashion choice :D. Now I know better.
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Tattoos have a history of their own. I wonder whether. those who flaunt them are aware of it
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