Brandy Norwood’s Lord Ganesh tattoo starts fad for Hindu tattoos

NEVADA - Recent tattoo of Hindu deity Ganesh on left wrist of Brandy Norwood, one of the best-selling female artists in American music history, seems to have created a fascination for tattoos depicting things Hindu.

According to reports, tattoo parlor owners are seeing a surge of interest in Hindu deities, concepts, and Sanskrit verses.

Welcoming new interest of tattoo fans in Hinduism focused drawings, distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, urged them to go beyond the fashion statement and explore the rich philosophical thought which Hinduism offered.

Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, urged tattoo fans to have more patience and go beyond the superficial because Hinduism concepts evolved over thousands of years and needed deep study.

Some of the celebrities who sport Sanskrit tattoos include Grammy winner singer-model Rihanna, MTV winner actress Jessica Alba (Sin City), musician Tommy Lee (Motley Crue), dancer-singer Kimberly Wyatt (Pussycat Dolls), actress-singer Alyssa Milano (Who’s the Boss), footballer David Beckham, Golden Globe winner actress Gillian Anderson (The X Files), British footballer Theo Walcott, etc.

Om, the mystical syllable containing the universe, seems to be the most popular of Sanskrit tattoos, followed by shlokas (verses) from ancient Hindu scriptures, dating back up to around 1500 BCE.

In view of various incidents of misspelled Sanskrit tattoos, including singer-model Rihanna’s, Rajan Zed has urged tattoo artists worldwide to undertake basic training in ancient Sanskrit language and culture surrounding it. Organizations representing tattooing field, in collaboration with Sanskrit scholars/organizations, should draft a basic curriculum meant for tattoo artists introducing them to the Sanskrit language, script, and philosophy behind it.

Norwood, 31, singer-songwriter-actress-dancer-film producer-etc., has reportedly sold over 30 million records worldwide and won over 100 awards as recording artist.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. Sanskrit is considered a sacred language, the language of the gods. Tattoos go back in history to at least since Neolithic times. (ANI)