Did Sanskrit tattoo designs exist in ancient India? No one knows now. However, we know that henna temporary tattoos have been used by women in India and the Middle East for many hundreds of years, and we also know that India was quite technologically advanced in ancient times (India was producing and exporting high quality steel when Europe could barely produce poor quality iron). So it is quite possible that Indians already had tattoos in their distant history. How Did Tattoos Become Popular?