Ancient symbols and deities are a popular option for tattoos. Heaped with symbolism, meanings, and more, they are an option that becomes open to interpretation and makes people stop and think. In today’s article, we’ll talk about Saraswati tattoos to tell you more about the goddess and what she represents in skin art.
As it turns out, this ancient goddess carries quite the powerful message in any medium and skin art is certainly no exception. Let’s talk about Saraswati tattoos and we can see what you think!
What is the History of Saraswati Tattoos?
The goddess Saraswati is first mentioned in the Rigveda and this is a very old text, with some of its core material being dated back to 1500 to 1000 BC. That’s undeniably ancient, so how is she depicted and what does she represent?
Saraswati is shown sometimes with 4 arms or simply two, she is always dressed in pure white and seated upon a white lotus. She is considered to be the goddess of knowledge, music, and creativity and a force that brings order out of even the most violent chaos.
With so many years behind the worship of this goddess and her associations with knowledge and creativity, it’s easy to see the appeal, and skin art certainly seems to be a fitting homage.
While we can’t say when the first tattoos of her came about, it’s probably safe to say that the first Saraswati tattoo has long ago turned into dust – they’re about as ‘ancient’ as it gets!
What Do Saraswati Tattoos Symbolize?
Saraswati tattoos can represent an affinity for the things which she governs or perhaps the desire to attract them. Knowledge and creativity has always been something that we’ve sought since the dawn of time so it’s easy to see the appeal.
When depicted with 4 arms, two of them will be pushed forward, while the other two are behind her, and this represents that Saraswati works with two arms in the physical world and two in the spiritual – a lovely artistic representation of transcendence, wouldn’t you agree?
The 4-arms depiction also represent the 4 aspects of the inner life, and these are consciousness, ego, the intellect, and the mind. While these tattoos are often worn for spiritual purposes, some will choose them for what Saraswati represents, rather than for the goddess herself, and others simply like the aesthetics or the longevity of her image and symbolism.
Needless to say, your own Saraswati tattoo can say quite a lot of things – it all depends on how you depict her and what you depict nearby.
What Do Saraswati Tattoos Mean?
Saraswati tattoos might be a matter of personal faith for the owner or they could represent the spiritual desires that the person possesses. Saraswati achieves a proper balance, working in this world and the one beyond, and many people feel that this is a perfect representation of transcendence.
Someone who loves the history of ancient India might also choose to wear a Saraswati tattoo, while still other’s might simply like the look of her or see her as a feminist symbol for her power, knowledge, and the fact that her worship has lasted longer than many entire religions!
The meaning of the tattoo, of course, is going to be something that you will have to decide, and while you can certainly go with a traditional depiction – as she has quite a lot of meaning already – you can certainly tailor a design with her that is most uniquely you.
Where Do Saraswati Tattoos Usually Go?
Saraswati tattoos can go anywhere that you like, though some spots are a little more common than others. For instance, an intimate placement on the hip is a great way to display this goddess and to ensure that what she means to you is only apparent to those close enough to see the tattoo.
The arm is also a popular choice, where she may be depicted in full form or as a face with a mandala and some of her personal symbols. As a backpiece, she can really shine as well, and if you go this route then we would definitely recommend full color.
With a goddess this ancient, you’ve got a very rich vein of symbolism to mine, so it might even be best to put off placement until after you have already constructed your draft of the design.
That way, you’ll have a good idea how big the tattoo should be and you can even get tips from your artist as to where it might look it’s best. It takes a little time but if you do it right, the results will be something you’ll be enjoying for a long, long time.
Characteristics and Styles of Saraswati Tattoos
Saraswati is depicted in many different ways and styles. She could be done in a minimalist way, with a 4-armed silhouette dancing on a white lotus, or you could go into detail and show her busy with two arms pushed forward, while two arms are moving behind her, as she works her will on both of these worlds.
While you can certainly depict her based on traditional Indian artistic renderings, some will choose to simply use this as a base and then pick their own styles for it. The goddess might thus be photorealistic or perhaps exaggerated in a New School depiction that seems to say that ‘knowledge isn’t just everything, but it’s also fun’.
As the goddess inspires creativity, we highly recommend taking your time with. Settle on a design and then ask yourself how it would look with Watercolor tattooing inks. Look through your artist’s portfolio and think about your design in the different styles you see depicted.
Don’t worry – you’ll know when the design is perfect – and after that it’s going to be up to you and your artist to manifest this vision of a tattoo that you’ve put so much creativity into.
Some final words on Saraswati tattoos
Saraswati is an ancient goddess and as such, the symbolism and meanings which you may draw from her image are many. If this goddess and what she represents resonate with you, then you would do well to consider Saraswati tattoos and creating your very own Saraswati design.
Once you do, just be sure to share the results with the rest of us… we can’t wait to see what you do with your own Saraswati tattoo!
