'India changed me': Why Slovenian footballer Luka Majcen got Lord Shiva & Mahamrityunjaya mantra tattooed on his back; It all started with a Google search

Slovenian footballer Luka Majcen is known for his goals on the pitch, but it is his striking tattoo of Lord Shiva that has also caught the attention of football fans. The forward, who has spent several successful seasons playing in India, has a large image of Lord Shiva inked across his back along with the sacred Mahamrityunjaya mantra.

For many supporters, the tattoo raises one obvious question: why would a footballer from Slovenia choose one of Hinduism's most revered deities as a permanent part of his life?

According to ETimes, the answer lies in a deeply personal spiritual journey that began with a novel, grew through unexpected experiences in India and eventually transformed his outlook on life.

Lord Shiva tattoo reflects a personal spiritual journey

Majcen's back tattoo features Lord Shiva surrounded by the Mahamrityunjaya mantra, one of Hinduism's most powerful and sacred prayers. Traditionally, the mantra is associated with protection, healing and inner strength.

The footballer has never described the tattoo as a fashion statement. Instead, it reflects a spiritual connection that developed over time while living and playing in India.

It all began with the book Shantaram

Speaking in an interview with the Indian Super League, Majcen revealed that his interest in Indian spirituality started after reading the bestselling novel Shantaram.

As quoted by ETimes, he explained that the book introduced him to ideas that stayed with him long after he had finished reading it. What initially began as curiosity gradually developed into a much deeper interest in Indian philosophy and spirituality.

How a teammate's mother introduced him to 'Rudra'

Majcen said one unexpected incident strengthened that connection even further.

He recalled that a teammate's mother had performed a pooja and later told him that the name Rudra had come to her mind.

"I came into her head with the name Rudra."

Curious about its meaning, Majcen searched for the name online.

"When I googled it, I saw this is one of Shiva's angry avatars. The roarer. The aggressive one."

He admitted that discovering the meaning of Rudra had a profound impact on him and encouraged him to explore mindfulness and meditation more seriously.

'This is a transformation that India made for me'

Looking back on his journey, Majcen credited India with changing his outlook on life.

"This is a transformation that India made for me."

The Slovenian striker said his years in India reshaped him in ways he never expected when he first arrived to play football in the country.

Luka Majcen's successful football career in India

Majcen began his senior football career with Slovenian club Interblock before moving to India in 2020 to join Churchill Brothers in the I-League.

He enjoyed an impressive debut season, scoring 11 goals in just 15 matches to finish as the league's second-highest scorer.

His success continued with Gokulam Kerala, where he won the I-League title, before joining RoundGlass Punjab. There, he helped the club secure another I-League championship, won the Player of the Season award and finished as the league's top scorer with 16 goals.