Swastika From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Swastika, a symbol of auspiciousness in Hinduism, Buddhism and JainismThe swastika (卐) (Sanskrit: स्वस्तिक) is a symbol that generally takes the form of an equilateral cross, with its four arms bent at 90 degrees. The earliest archeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization as well as the Mediterranean Classical Antiquity and paleolithic Europe. Swastikas have been used in various other ancient civilizations around the world including Turkic, India, Iran, Armenia, Nepal, China, Japan, Korea and Europe. It represents the principle originating the universe, or life (Brahman), with the four swirling arms representing the four directions of the manifest universe (the four faces of Brahma). It remains widely used in Indian religions and Far Eastern religions. The word swastika comes from the Sanskrit svastika - su (meaning good or auspicious) combined with asti (meaning being)[citation needed], along with the diminutive suffix ka. The swastika literally means well-being. It is a common practice for Hindus to draw Swastika symbols on the doors and entrances to their houses during festivals, which is believed to symbolize an invitation to goddess Lakshmi. The name sauwastika is sometimes given to the left-facing arms symbol, which is a mirror image of swastika (卍). The symbol has a long history in Europe reaching back to antiquity. In modern times, following a brief surge of popularity as a good luck symbol in Western culture, a swastika was adopted as a symbol of the Nazi Party of Germany in 1920, who used the swastika as a symbol of the Aryan race. A right-facing 45° rotated swastika was incorporated into the flag of the Nazi Party, which was made the state flag of Germany during the Nazi era, after Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933. Hence in many Western countries the swastika is stigmatized as being associated with Nazism and related concepts like antisemitism, hatred, violence, death, and murder. Notably, the swastika has been outlawed in Germany and other countries if used as a symbol of Nazism in certain instances. Many modern white nationalist and Neo-Nazi groups such as the Russian National Unity use stylized swastikas or similar symbols. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika
Posted on: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 10:33:46 +0000
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