Holy Tattoos! Krishna is Everywhere

[Guest guest]

Holy Tattoos! Krishna is Everywhere

 

"Krishna art has been winning awards at tattoo conventions for years."

Timothy, an artist in Richmond, VA notes, "We like you guys coming

here. No other religion reaches out to us. I think it's great."

 

It all started about four years ago when some book distributors told

me that tattoo artists like Krishna Consciousness—or, at least, they

like the art in our books. One guy even had a Nrsingadeva tattoo on

his back! Little did we know: Krishna art has been winning awards at

tattoo conventions for years.

In the summer of 1998 Tripurari das and I decided to seriously

target the tattoo crowd. We stocked his van with Krishna Art books,

posters and Bhagavad-gitas and set out to visit every tattoo shop

east of the Mississippi. The response was terrific! Some shops

bought multiple books and many artists wanted to hear the philosophy

as well.

 

Distributing Krishna Art books shop to shop was grueling though, so

when some artists encouraged us to attend the national tattoo

conventions we were interested. There, dozens of the best tattoo

artists would gather and install tattoos on hundreds of people.

 

For the first few conventions we would go in "undercover", wearing

regular clothes and not telling the organizers what we were up to

for fear of being kicked out. But now, three years and many

conventions later, we feel more at home. We boldly wear our

devotional clothes and tilak, proclaiming our own form of body art.

The conventions always bring fascinating exchanges with people who

are reading the books and asking sincere questions. We have

practically been adopted as priests for the tattoo community.

 

A major boost in our "tattoo preaching" occurred two years ago when

we made friends with Tony Olivas, one of the biggest tattoo shop

owners/promoters in the country. Tony has a heart of gold and gives

us a free table to set up Srila Prabhupada's books at his

conventions. As a result, hundreds of people get to learn more about

Krishna and many take home books.

 

Just this summer, Devakarya das and I returned to Atlanta for

Tony's "Sacred Heart" Tattoo convention. After setting up our goods,

I left Devakarya to man the table. Carrying a Krishna Art book I

walked into the main room where artists sat in their booths intently

tattooing cringing recipients. My devotional clothes drew stares

from some and waving hands and smiles from many others. Walking down

the line of booths I noticed a guy getting a tattoo. He

looked up at me in surprise. The artist doing the work jumped when

she saw me and said, "This must be a sign." She pointed at the

tattoo -- it was Vishnu from the cover of the Science of Self

Realization! We shared a few laughs and, of course, later they both

came by our table and picked up more books Devakarya was talking

with one big, intimidating guy who wanted to show him his tattoo.

Taking off his shirt he displayed a shoulder covered with baby

Krishna. "I got this out of the book you guys sell."

 

And so it goes at every convention we attend. Of course, now we are

selling fewer art books since most of the artists already have one,

but for many the art book stimulates their interest in other books.

Timothy, an artist in Richmond, VA notes, "We like you guys coming

here. No other religion reaches out to us. I think it's great."

 

 

You may think tattoo artists look a bit outrageous, but on the

inside they are generally open minded and appreciative. Devotees

don't judge a book by its cover - pandita sama darsinah. A devotee

knows that whatever we pursue—money, fame, or the best tattoo— they

are all just different ways that the soul is searching for Krishna.

Perhaps that's why Krishna devotees and the tattoo community get

along so well. Lord Chaitanya's unique loving network includes even

tattoo artists and the people who wear them.

 

"The Hare Krishna artwork is beautiful. Tattooing is magical to me,

as is the Hare Krishna's presence at the convention—so it is a

perfect fit.

Thank you and I hope you come again next year!"

— Colette (Atlanta tattoo artist)