Depending on one’s motivation for the tattoo at hand (especially in the United States where culture has a tendency to mix in order to showcase originality) the traditional Indian style of art tends to become blended with Arabic scripture. These tattoos almost always incorporate religious proverbs or inspirational sayings such as, “The journey of a thousand miles only starts with one step.” When it comes to spirituality itself, images of the gods Kali (the source of all life) and Shiva (destruction) are a vital piece of the puzzle. As with nearly all forms of tattooing, placement is everything when considering Indian tattoos. There is almost always a deep spiritual connection with where the tattoo will reside. Brides, as mentioned, must decorate their hands and feet in order for the art to better partake in the night’s merriment. Married women will embed a vermilion “pottu” between the brows on their forehead so that they may proudly display their marital status. While generally shunned by the Middle-eastern religions, a convert to Islam will also sometimes tattoo their former names upon the neck or jaw line so that they may have a constant reminder of the life they left behind.One can scarcely deny that Indian tattooing as a whole is by far one of the most inspiring and involved mediums that this world has to offer. The level of detail alone requires a deep commitment not often found in many other tattoo styles.
