Are Sanskrit tattoo designs a recent Western phenomenon, or did the ancient Indians already have such tattoos? On the surface, it seems unlikely because Hinduism bans tattoos - much the same case as any other major religion, actually. But we also know that many other ancient cultures also made tattoos taboo - but they still infiltrated those societies. The Greeks, Romans, Japanese and Chinese come to mind. In addition, henna temporary tattoos have been a part of life in India and the Middle East for many centuries, often used by women during celebrations.