TATTOOS ?

[jaswant]

NAMASTE !

I have been thinking of tattoos lately... what does our traditions say regarding tattoos

yours

jaswant

[Eastern Mind]

Vanakkam jaswant:

As far as I know, there are no taboos on tatoos. Just keep in mind that there are those who like to find reasons to be offended. Of course you should also not select an offensive image, or body location. What were you thinking of for the image, BTW. There is a lot of choice.

Aum Namasivaya

[TatTvamAsi]

NAMASTE !

I have been thinking of tattoos lately... what does our traditions say regarding tattoos

yours

jaswant

Tattoos, traditionally speaking, are seen as abusive to the body, a temple in which the jIvA resides. Hence, they are undesirable. Of course, if you're talking about the stick on tattoos for kids, well, that's okay I suppose although they look ridiculous.


Namaskar.

[satay]

namaste,

Tattoos, traditionally speaking, are seen as abusive to the body, a temple in which the jIvA resides. Hence, they are undesirable. Namaskar.

Hmm...I didn't know this. Well, I learn something new everyday. I have seen many Indians with OM or Ram tattooed on their hands.

[TatTvamAsi]

namaste,



Hmm...I didn't know this. Well, I learn something new everyday. I have seen many Indians with OM or Ram tattooed on their hands.

Namaste Satay,

Yes, I learnt about it relatively recently as well. My friend, a Punjabi Hindu, has the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra and AUM tattooed on his arm.

Namaskar.

[Eastern Mind]

Vannakkam TTA:

I got curious about this today so did quite an extensive search on the internet. I understand the sentiment of body abuse, but don't agree with it personally because of my relationship with Murugan, and kavadi.

Regarding tattoos themselves, I couldn't find any clear scriptural references for or against.There were a couple of sites that claimed tattoos were a long standing tradition within Hinduism, but they didn't seem like trustworthy sites, as anyone can say anything.

My gut reaction was that they are a modern phenomena, but deliberate scarring is also considered tattooing, and that's been going on for a long time. As of now, I remain open minded.

But personally, I think they're silly. But that's because I grew up in an army town, and I still associate tattooing with the rough culture of soldiers I grew up with.

Aum Namasivaya

[Einherjar]

I can't speak for India itself, but, I am actually currently apprenticing to be a tattoo artist and here's an interesting tid-bit of information for you all

"Tattooing has been a Eurasian practice at least since around Neolithic times. Ötzi the Iceman, dating from the fourth to fifth millennium BC, was found in the Ötz valley in the Alps and had approximately 57 carbon tattoos consisting of simple dots and lines on his lower spine, behind his left knee, and on his right ankle. [19] Other mummies bearing tattoos and dating from the end of the second millennium BC have been discovered, such as the Mummy of Amunet from Ancient Egypt and the mummies at Pazyryk on the Ukok Plateau.[4]"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tattoo#History

[TatTvamAsi]

Vannakkam TTA:

I got curious about this today so did quite an extensive search on the internet. I understand the sentiment of body abuse, but don't agree with it personally because of my relationship with Murugan, and kavadi.

Regarding tattoos themselves, I couldn't find any clear scriptural references for or against.There were a couple of sites that claimed tattoos were a long standing tradition within Hinduism, but they didn't seem like trustworthy sites, as anyone can say anything.

My gut reaction was that they are a modern phenomena, but deliberate scarring is also considered tattooing, and that's been going on for a long time. As of now, I remain open minded.

But personally, I think they're silly. But that's because I grew up in an army town, and I still associate tattooing with the rough culture of soldiers I grew up with.

Aum Namasivaya

EM,

Yes, you bring up a good point. The notion of tattoos being regarded as abusive to the body is generally from a 'grhsta' standpoint; someone who would be a regular Joe.

However, such things, although I'm not sure about tattoos in particular, can also be construed as tapasya (penance). Piercing, for example, is clearly seen as penance; I am sure you are aware of the famous Tamil festival Thai Pusam wherein bhaktas go through tremendous penance by having all sorts of piercings. It hurts to just look at for me! haha.. So perhaps tattoos may fall under that category for sincere bhaktas. However, I assumed the OP asked about tattoos in general, for the regular Joe. And, perhaps it is more cultural than religious, that is seen as abusive to the body.

Namaskar.

[Krsna Das]

Radhe..

According to Sri Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu, a devotee should get the tattoes tattoed on the body...but only those tattoes which make him and others think of Krsna...example:

peacock feathers
flute
sudarsana cakra
padma (lotus flower)
Conch Shell
Hare Krsna Mahamantra
Radhe.....etc

[jaswant]

NAMASTE TO ALL !

Thank yous so much for all your inputs.

What about "branding"...i belive some vaishnav sects do that when geting initiated..eg a conch or chacra is branded on the body..

j