Tattoo artists divided

Tattoo artists are divided in their opinion on whether one should exercise caution when s/he wants to get a religious symbol inked.

While some said it was a violation of personal choice, others said it was only fair to refrain from hurting religious sentiments.

Pradeep Menon, a tattoo artist from Koramangala, said he had gone to conventions and seen a lot of people who sported tattoos with pictures of gods and goddesses.

“I find it ridiculous. This is a personal preference. Nobody can ask anybody to remove something that is on her/his body. Whenever people say they want a religious symbol as a tattoo, I warn them of consequences, among which would be dealing with activist groups,” he said.

Rajgopal, a tattoo artist from Indiranagar, felt that the Australian national had attracted attention probably because he is a foreigner.

Condemning the incident, he said, “Your body is a temple and tattooing is a form of art. It shouldn’t matter where you are getting it inked.”

On the other hand, Girish, the owner of a tattoo studio on Church Street who comes from a family of priests, said the studio follows a “strict code of ethics”, which includes not drawing religious symbols “below the naval, on the chest and even on the back for some gods and symbols”.

“Many foreigners who come to us find Hindu gods and goddesses and religious symbols fascinating as they don’t have such variety. But we explain to them the meaning, the spiritual chakras and where tattoos should be drawn, and they understand,” he added.