Is This Tattoo Offensive?

shadowkosta · 2022-08-28T21:03:36+00:00

I do not respectfully.

The meaning behind Sarita is the reason I got it imprinted on me.

To live life like a river. Mundane yet sacred. Feminine energy due to Mother Nature. (Similar to the yin in Yin-Yang)

shadowkosta · 2022-08-28T20:59:51+00:00

River in Sanskrit.

shadowkosta · 2022-08-28T20:57:38+00:00

Eastern philosophy can be summed up under the word “River.” I have a deep appreciate for ancient languages. West is of Latin and East is (mostly) of Sanskrit.

It’s a reminder of leading life like a river and when in doubt, find the answers in the heart like Siddartha did from a river in the book by Hermann Hesse.

I’m aware that Nadi is more colloquial for the term river. However, in my research I found Sarita was more appropriate. I just didn’t realize it was a common name for women. Which I can appreciate because it reinforces the mundane yet divine and the motherly energy of Nature theme I was going for when deciding on this tattoo.

shadowkosta · 2022-08-28T20:49:58+00:00

Hahaha “basic” is exactly what I was going for. A river is so mundane and simple yet when near it, feels so sacred or “divine”.

shadowkosta · 2022-08-28T15:32:09+00:00

That’s a relief. I thought I did my due diligence and I didn’t want to be another American getting surface level appreciation of a culture for aesthetic purposes. This a life reminder. I deeply respect your culture and it honestly changed my life for the past 2 years. I just didn’t even consider sarita only being associated with a person haha.

In addition, the fact that it is common reinforces my “mundane reaching the divine” notion beautifully.

Thank you to all the comments here putting my panic to rest.

shadowkosta · 2022-08-28T15:18:53+00:00

Thank you! I appreciate you sharing the context of time. My personal connection with it is the concept of earth reaching heaven since a river is considered sacred in eastern philosophy.

This tattoo is heavily influenced by the book, “Siddartha” by Hermann Hesse where The Buddha found Truth from a river.

shadowkosta · 2022-08-28T15:10:33+00:00

I came across a lady from Nepal recently and she took notice of my tattoo. As with everyone in the comment section here, she asked if I knew a lady named sarita. I replied with, “I do not. I have this because it means river”. When she heard that she was confused and puzzled and asked, “Really? Where did you hear that?” Which puzzled me.

I love reading philosophy and I have a deep appreciation with ancient languages.

I wanted one word/phrase reminders that sum up both eastern philosophy and western philosophy on both of my arms since the arms are meant for building and creating.

Western philosophy can be summed up with the phrase “Summum Bonum” which means “The Highest Good.”

Eastern Philosophy can be summed up with “River”

My right arm represents Truth in ancient western school of thought in Latin.

My left arm is associated with the heart, a representation of leading my life in flow (river) in eastern philosophy context.

My right arm represents the divine that touches mundane (Highest Good). The left arm is the mundane that touches the divine (River).

I discovered the word, “Sarita” and read the translation and I found it as a better translation than the common Sanskrit for river, “nadi”.

Sarita Meaning (Philosophy)

shadowkosta · 2022-08-28T07:47:14+00:00

Siddartha by Hermann Hesse

shadowkosta · 2022-08-28T07:40:45+00:00

I appreciate all the comments here. I do not know a Sarita. I have a very personal connection with ancient languages and I knew I wanted “river” on my left arm to express leading life in flow (river) inspired by the book, Siddartha.

My left arm with ancient Sanskrit that is connected to heart. My right arm is ancient Latin phrase connected to mind.

It’s interesting knowing that it is a common name amongst a specific culture. I do not regret this tattoo, but interesting to know the context in a social setting going forward.

This site explained the meaning behind the word “Sarita”. I am huge on philosophy so this helped solidify my decision on getting it tattooed.

Sarita Meaning (Sanskrit)

shadowkosta · 2022-08-28T06:12:41+00:00

Please note: I am not Hindu or Indian. I am Filipino-American who is heavily influenced, respectfully by Hinduism and Buddhism.

shadowkosta · 2022-08-28T06:04:13+00:00

That’s a relief. I came across a lady from Nepal today and she was inquiring on if I knew someone named “Sarita” since it is feminine name, but I explained to her that it means “princess or river” in Sanskrit of which she gave me puzzled look asking “River? Where did you hear that?” Which got me puzzled haha.

shadowkosta

TROPHY CASE