One of the eight auspicious symbols of Buddhism, the lotus is one idea for a Buddhist tattoo. According to the "Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols," the eight auspicious symbols are the most well-known of Buddhism and were originally offerings to an Indian king. The lotus represents the blossoming of pure activities, and the Buddha and other deities are often seen sitting or standing on a lotus. Choose a lotus with four, eight, 16, 42 or 64 petals, which correspond to the chakras in Buddhism. Pink lotuses should have eight or 16 petals, while a yellow lotus is called the golden lotus, or padma.
The golden fishes are also one of the eight auspicious symbols of Buddhism, and are usually depicted as two fish in a circle with their noses touching. Their origin is from the two largest rivers in India, the Ganges and the Yamuna. In Buddhism, the golden fishes represent happiness and abundance, and they are usually found as a pair. For a tattoo, design two carps completely symmetrical with their noses touching. Use yellow or gold for the tattoo and depict the fish with graceful tails and fins.
Design a Buddhist tattoo with an ornate bowl with three ripe fruit, such as mangoes or peaches. In Buddhism, fruit offerings represent taste in the five attributes of sensory enjoyment. Three fruits are also the three jewels of Buddhism, which are Buddha, dharma and sangha, and they are the past, present and future. As symbols, fruit offerings refer to the creative juice and artistic inspiration, especially in dance and music.
In Buddhism, deer represent renunciation, because they do not sleep in the same place on consecutive nights. They are symbols of natural harmony and purity, and deer are often drawn as pairs. For a tattoo, design a deer with horns, which are a symbol of longevity. A male and female deer together symbolize happiness and fidelity.