Each religion or culture had their own religious tattoo designs and the images they created had significant meaning to their spiritual beliefs. The common thread through all the groups is the hope that their religious tattoos will protect them from harm and give bring them prosperity.

Picture Religious Tattoo

The meaning of Religious Tattoos in different regions of the world:

In Egypt women wore tattoos representing the goddess of fertility with the hope they would be blessed with children and in India many people worshiped and still worship Lord Rama. They engrave his name on their body in Sanskrit.

Hindus create religious tattoos of the gods Kali, Ganesha, and Shiva and young Hindus often wear the “Om” symbol to show their faith and look cool.

In Christianity there is much debate about religious tattoos and if the bible is for or against the wearing of tattoos. Some say it is a sin and others have crosses or the name of Jesus tattooed on their body.

Photo Religious Tattoo

In North American native Americans have long accepted the practice of engraving spiritual markings on their body to show their faith and scare away evil spirits. In Hawaii many people believe their is a tattoo god and they have a tattoo priest. The religious tattoos the believers wear are primarily designed to fend off bad spirits similar to the beliefs of the native Americans.

There are many reasons why people have their body decorated with religious tattoos and the type of tattoo they choose has much to do with the region they live in and the tribe or group they belong to. Sometimes the tattoos people wear are based on their spiritual beliefs and sometimes the tat is just creative art that is used to decorate the body.

Common religious tattoos:

1. Praying hands
2. Crucifix or cross
3. Rosary
4  Sign of the fish
5. The oil lamp
6. Crown of thorns
7. Image of Christ
8. Star of David
9. Dove
10 Sacred Hearts
11. Angels
12. The Virgin Mary
13. The last supper
14. The chalice
15. The Good Shepherd
16. The Grail
17. The Holy Trinity
18. Madonna

Islamic Religious Tattoos:

1. Crescent with Star
2. Hand of Fatima
3. Verses of the Quran

Hindu Spiritual Tattoos:

1. Ganesha
2. Brahma
3. Kali
4. Shiva
5. Vishnu
6. Krishna

Tribal Religious Tattoos:

1. Animals
2. Flowers and plants
3. Celestial bodies suns, stars, moons and comets
4. Mythological dragons, unicorns, Pegasus, phoenix
5. Armbands

The Religious Tattoo Debate:

Religious tattoos are often controversial because many religions prohibit the act of tattooing. In spite of these warnings the faithful continue to have their bodies inked with tattoos that reveal their devotion and faith.