What Swasthik Iyengar has said about Tattoo art as spiritual practice
4 quotes · 1 episode · Jun 30, 2025
Swasthik Iyengar, South Indian-born tattoo artist and painter known as Ganga Ma, based in New York, has been quoted on Tattoo art as spiritual practice 4 times in 1 episode of Seekers of the Eternal, most recently on June 30, 2025. Each quote below is verbatim and links to the moment it was said.
In their words
Iyengar argued that because tattooing is a permanent energy exchange, the artist's state of mind directly affects the quality of what she delivers.
“if I'm not in the right state of mind, then I'm not delivering something to the best of my ability”
Seekers of the Eternal: Ep 66 - Swasthik Iyengar - Sacred Tattoos (Jun 30, 2025) · Listen from 15:13
Iyengar said that drawing deities and esoteric art reconnected her with God after losing her faith in adolescence.
“drawing deities and spiritual and esoteric art, the more I started connecting back with God, the more I would wake up”
Seekers of the Eternal: Ep 66 - Swasthik Iyengar - Sacred Tattoos (Jun 30, 2025) · Listen from 24:49
Iyengar said her connection to nature is as important to her as her connection to God.
“having that connection to nature is equally as important as connection to God too, for sure”
Seekers of the Eternal: Ep 66 - Swasthik Iyengar - Sacred Tattoos (Jun 30, 2025) · Listen from 44:15
Iyengar said that her progress stalls when her motivation is material gain rather than authenticity.
“I think the universe knows when my intent, my reasoning for it isn't one coming from a really authentic place and potentially it's for material gain”
Seekers of the Eternal: Ep 66 - Swasthik Iyengar - Sacred Tattoos (Jun 30, 2025) · Listen from 59:14
Episodes
Ep 66 - Swasthik Iyengar - Sacred TattoosSeekers of the Eternal · Jun 30, 2025 · 1 h 13 min
Palehorse talks with tattoo artist Swasthik Iyengar (Ganga Ma) about her grandmother's healing kolam tattoos, devotional art, Hindu deities and the spiritual side of tattooing.
Others on Tattoo art as spiritual practice
- Palehorse · 2 quotes
Swasthik Iyengar on other topics
- Traditional tattooing in India · 2 quotes
- Social media and self-presentation · 1 quote
- American traditional tattooing · 1 quote
- Lakshmi Narasimha · 1 quote
- Kolam · 1 quote