Ganesha tattoos are the ink representation of the Hindu deity also known as Vinayaka, Binayak or Ganapati. You will find the image of Ganesha throughout Thailand, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka. In Hindu, Ganesha is worshiped no matter the affiliation.

Ganesha is easy to identify by his large elephant head and his four arms. Ganesha is known to the god of removing obstacles. He is also known as the patron of sciences and arts as well as the benevolent being of wisdom and intellect.

In this article, we will spend some time discussing some of the history behind the Ganesha and what this God symbolizes in life and in a tattoo. We hope by the end of this post you will have a better understanding of the Ganesha tattoo and what it means to the people wearing it.

Iconography

Many might wonder what Ganesha looks like and how she is depicted in tattoos around the world. Ganesha is extremely well liked in Indian art. Unlike many of the other deities, Ganesha has shown many variations of his distinct patterns over time. Ganesha might be pictured playing with family, sitting down or in an elevated position, she might be dancing or fighting demons. Fortunately, because of the many ways Ganesha is portrayed, a Ganesha tattoo can take many forms and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Ganesha in a plethora of positions.

Images of Ganesha were everywhere in India by the 6th century. The earliest images were of Ganesha sitting. Ganesha has a big belly and an elephant head. Most depictions of Ganesha will show him with four arms holding different items. However, common items held by Ganesha in this image are his own broken tusk. He is also known to be holding rope and an axe. These all have specific meanings, but we will get into that soon. You may also see Ganesha’s trunk turning sharply to taste a sweet he is holding. On some occasions, however, you may see Ganesha as being depicted with a human head.