The SWASTIKA - symbol - Sanatana Dharma - hinduism part 3

SANATANA – DHARMA

Hinduism

Symbols

The SWASTIKA

(स्वास्तिक)

This is the third presentation in my study of ‘Sanatana Dharma’-सनातन धर्म, after my articles on ‘Sanatana Dharma’ and  ‘OM’.

Misconception

In most of the western world, the Swastika is looked at with disgust and abhorrence. For most people in the west the Swastika is a symbol of atrocity, genocide and hatred. It is so because one man, Adolf Hitler and his evil regime, the Nazis, carried out heinous acts under a flag which had this symbol as their mark of superiority over other races.

Adolf Hitler and the Nazis were wrong on many counts.
Firstly, they were not the original (or the purest of) Aryan race. The finest example of the Aryan intellect and their superiority in human sciences and philosophy they had no contemporary parallel (nor it seems that there are any in modern times). These aspects are clearly visible in the Vedas. The Aryans were not oppressors. In fact, the Aryan race respected every individual, the nature, the ecology and just as importantly, it respected the sanctity of existence of every life form. The Nazis however, had absolutely no respect for these.

Secondly, the Nazis were not the 'real' Aryan race. The origins of the Aryan race can be traced back to the 'Sindhu-Saravat' civilization and not the alps as was propagated by the Nazis (and believed/ and taught to this day). This is evident by multiple factors: Aryan is a Sanskrit word and also the word 'Arya' means 'great' in Sanskrit. The Aryans of the Vedic era do not mention a word in the Vedas about them being of European descent. The Vedas speak greatly of the mighty Sarasvati and Sindhu as their holy and venerable rivers, which provides ample proof that these Aryans were of Indian origin (actually, of the Indian sub-continental origin, which includes a great part of modern day Pakistan and Afghanistan). After the Sindhu and Sarasvati rivers dried up, these Aryans migrated westwards towards Europe and eastwards to the plains of the Ganga and Yamuna, and the mighty rivers of present day states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in India.

Thirdly, the Aryans did not believe in discrimination among humans either in caste, creed, skin texture or any other means. The Nazis were a pure contradiction.

It is a shame that one man and one regime's evil deeds have made a symbol of virtue into a symbol of despise.

The Swastika represents auspiciousness and piety,
good luck and virtue, Goodness and Dharma.

‘OM’ is the first step to knowing what Sanatana Dharma (the true name for Hinduism) stands for. It symbolizes all the important aspects of spiritualism. The ‘Swastika’ स्वास्तिक  is the second symbol which is extremely important because it is used as widely and commonly like ‘OM’ ॐ .

The Swastika is primarily and originally a Hindu symbol but also equally important in various other religions/sects like Buddhism-बौद्ध, Jainism-जैन, Sikhism-सिख  and many other Asian religions/sects etc.,

Various cultures have their own version of the Hindu Swastika. Most of these cultures have adopted this symbol with equal  just have the main symbol . In many cases these represent a particular meaning to each.

The Hindu Swastika is always done in Red or Saffron colour.

WHAT IS SWASTIKA?

‘Swastika’ is an equilateral cross bent at ninety degrees on all sides.

The word Swastika is a Hindi pronunciation of  the Sanskrit word ‘Su-Vastik’-सु-वास्तिक representing the same in meaning and values. The word ‘Su’ meaning ‘good/ auspicious/ all’ and ‘Astika’ अस्तिक  means ‘being / may always be’. ‘Astika’ also means ‘believer’ which enhances the meaning of the Swastika to mean ‘Good-Believer’.

The four sides of the Swastika also symbolize four important aspects of  Sanatana Dharma:

-      Dharma धर्म            (the Duty/Ethic)

-           Artha   अर्थ             (wealth generation and wise usage of it)

-           Karma कर्म             (action and result of it)

-           Moksha मोक्ष          (liberation from cycle of death and re-birth)

The Vedic civilization was highly advanced. The sages that oversaw its development, through their Mystic insight and deep meditation, discovered the ancient symbols of spirituality -  The Aumkara (\) and  The Swastika. They also discovered many scientific principles that they applied to develop highly advanced technology.

They gave the atom its Sanskrit name ‘Anu’-अणु, millennia before modern scientists discovered the atom.

For the followers of Sanatana Dharma, the Swastika represents a Universe in their our own spiral galaxy on the fore finger of Lord Vishnu विष्णु. This carries immense significance as it establishes the 'creation of the Universe'-(सृष्टि की रचना), and the arms as 'kaal' काल, or time, a calendar that is seen to be more advanced than the lunar calendar (symbolized by the lunar crescent common to Islam) where the seasons drift from calendar year to calendar year. The luni-solar solution for correcting season drift is used to adjust an extra month in certain years to restore the lunar cycle to the solar-season cycle. In Hindu calendars these months are called ‘Adhik-Maas’ अधिक मास meaning ‘extra month’.

-  There is a school of thought that the Swastika shape represents a monogram formed by interlacing of the 

   letters of the auspicious words ’su’  and ‘astí’ - (svasti) स्वस्ति written in Ashokan characters. However, 

   this can’t be true because the symbol pre dates the Ashokan era by a few millennia.

-  Swastika is at times, in certain sects, also considered a symbolic representation of Ganesha-गणपति. In
   rituals and rites, Ganesha is  presented with the first offerings in every ‘pooja’.

- Swastika is made with Vermilion powder -‘Sindoor’-सिन्दूर  or ‘Roli-रोली’ during Hindu religious rites.

- Almost throughout, the usage of Swastika has been most widely accepted as a symbol of the Sun. (These are used in many cultures to present date).

Swastika has two variations: one has an opening towards the right, while the other variation has an opening towards the left. (卍 and 卐)

There are many schools of thoughts which argue and debate about one being the right symbol or the other. However,  it is quite clear that the Swastika with opening towards the right is predominantly used by the followers of  Sanatana Dharma,  the Hindus, where as the one with left opening is used by the followers of Buddhism (as shown in the pictures here)

In another school of thought it is believed that the right opening represents a masculine sign while the left opening represents a feminine one. There are some mentions in the Vedas however, which literally prohibit the use of left opened Swastika.

The twin motifs symbolize the two aspects of  the creation of the universe by God Brahma. The right opened symbol represents the evolution of universe (Pravritti-प्रवृत्ति) whereas the left opening represents the involution of universe (Nivritti-निवृत्ति).

SWASTIKA

The four angles of Swastika cross point towards the four directions, the North-उत्तर (uttar), the East-पूर्व (poorv), the South-दक्षिण (dakshin) and the  West-पश्चिम (paschim) representing wealth, stability, firmness and strength. Within the openings, a dot is used as a motif and also signifies the four other direction, the north-east and the north-west, the south-east and the south-west.

The Swastika is:

- Auspicious! So it is used as a motif  and good luck symbol on every door or entrance of a house, temple, work place and   even on important documents like letterheads etc.

-Found in virtually every important art and architecture of Hindus

-It adorns an important place at the either side of \ in every temple and household place of worship

-On the auspicious‘Dhan-teras’ धन तेरस  – two days before ‘Diwali, it is written on the first page of the account books for good luck

-Used as the symbol of Sun, thereby representing ‘Surya-Deva (the Sun God) सूर्य-देव ‘

-Regarded very sacred and therefore this motif is used to adorn almost all the things associated with the Hindu religion

-Is considered very holy and so it is used in all the Hindu ‘Yantras’ यंत्र  in the form of a religious symbol

-Virtually all religious scriptures start with the symbol of Swastika

-God Ganesha is depicted as sitting on a lotus flower kept on the bed of Swastikas

-Swastika is one amongst the 108 symbols of  God Vishnu भगवन विष्णु 

- Swastika is a symbol of  good fortune. On many festivals like Diwali, Holi, Dassehra etc. many Hindus draw this symbol on every object of importance such as doors, utensils used for rituals, ‘Rangolis’ and even on the bonnets of their cars. It symbolizes Wealth and prosperity. Many business enterprises, commercial and residential buildings, areas and colonies are named ‘Swastika’ especially in  India.

It is drawn for protection from evil forces and to ward off ill-luck, on every vehicle owned by the Hindus and its sects, on every important festival.

Most houses have a Swastika on their doors as a sign of welcome for the guests, and piety.

***

After ‘Aum’ ॐ, Swastika is considered the most pious sign because it is considered a sign of Divinity. Many business documents have the symbol of Swastika for Good luck

The logo of Ahmedabad
Stock Exchange

- The ‘Ahmedabad Stock Exchange’ in the state of Gujarat in western India, has Swastika as its logo.

-In Nepal (predominantly a Hindu country) Swastika is considered very auspicious. So much so that ‘Nepal Chamber of Commerce’ uses this symbol as its logo.

The seal used for stamping
on the ballot paper

-The circular Swastika is used as a symbol for stamping on electoral ballots in India. The electronic voting  machines which have replaced the ballot paper also has this symbol as stamping sign.

The Origin / History of Swastika

Although many historians and archeologists in the west believe that the first sign of Swastika originated and was used in ancient Troy era dating back 4000 BCE (citing excavations with Swastika artifacts in the late nineteenth century by renowned archaeologist Heinrich Schliemannn. He speculated that is was an symbol use by his own ancestors.)

However, as the name itself signifies, it has Vedic origins and thus it is far older than 4000 BCE. The earliest mentions of Swastika are found in the Vedas वेद Puranas पुराण  and the Upanishads उपनिषद् .

Artifacts from the excavations of the Indus Valley and from the Sindhu-Saraswat सिन्धु -सरस्वत civilizations prove that the Swastika was as important a symbol and motif  in those times as it is today. These artifacts prove that the Swastika was an important symbol even before12000 BCE.,

The more famous ancient civilizations of Harappa हरप्पा  Mohenjo-Daro मोहन -जो -दड़ो in the Sindh state of Pakistan also confirm these facts. Though these sites are relatively newer (dating back to 2000 BC) these are significant.

The word ‘Swastika’ is first found as a word, mentioned in the 'Valmiki Ramayan' वाल्मीकि रामायण  

The dates can be confirmed by the Ram-Setu (Rama's bridge राम सेतु) built by God Rama’s army. This Setu (bridge) is partly visible with naked and is fully visible from satellites photographs. This bridge submerged around 5500 bce.

SWASTIKA  - Adoptions

Various sects of Hinduism have adopted this symbol and to them it is holds more importance and is considered holier than the present day practicers of ‘Sanatana Dharma’.

The BUDDHISTS

A Buddhist Temple
with left side open Swastika

For the Buddhist sect, Swastika is a symbol of good fortune in Buddhist religion. The Sswastika is considered extremely holy for the Buddhists because it represents the footprints, and the heart of Gautam Buddha. So, it is very often found imprinted on the heart, palms and on the feet of Buddha’s statues.

Therefore, the Swastika can be found on every temple site, ancient or modern, almost without exception.

Every Buddhists scripture or text begins with the symbol of Swastika because it is considered a symbol of infinity, affluence, abundance and long life. The symbol of Swastika is abundantly used as a religious symbol and as a motif in most of countries east of India. In Korea, Japan, Laos, Burma, Indonesia, Malaysia and almost all other countries to the east of and including India, use this symbol veryabundantly as a sign of good luck, wealth, fortune and general well being of mankind in general and also use it to this day as a motif with good luck charm, especially in their paintings and art in general.

Most importantly, the Swastika is a sign of Nirvana’ निर्वाण , which among the Buddhists means Moksha मोक्ष - the freedom from the cycle of death and rebirth. Here it must be borne in mind that according to Hindus, in Sanskrit or Hindi language, the word Moksha means freedom from Sansaar संसार the cycle of death and rebirth and ‘Nirvana’ means ‘A mental state of absolute bliss’.

It is logical to assume why Swastika is so popular and holy among Buddhists in India and elsewhere because Buddhism was exported to the east and west of India by one of the greatest emperors of India, ‘Ashoka-The Great’,  probably the greatest emperor to have ever lived.

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JAINISM

Jainism sect has adopted the Swastika symbol as religiously as any other sect of Hinduism. It has great relevance and significance of  Swastika as it is for the followers of ‘Sanatana Dharma’ or any other sect.

According to the Jainis, Swastika represents the Seventh Jina, more popularly known as the 'Tirthankar Suparshva' तीर्थांकर -सुपर्श्व because He was born with the sign of Swastika on His thigh. 

Swastika is one of the most prominent auspicious symbols of the present era in the Jain sect. In the cultural traditions of ‘Shvetambar Jains’, Swastika is one of the main symbols of the ‘Ashta-Mangalas’ अष्ठ -मंगल .

Swastika is the emblem of their seventh ‘ तीर्थंकर (saint).

Swastika is very important for Jains, so:

- Every holy book has the Swastika prominently imprinted on it.

- It can be seen on every temple.

- Every ceremony begins with drawing of the Swastika symbol numerous times around the altar.

- Jains make Swastikas with rice in front of temple deities. It is also called a ‘Rangoli’.

- On the occasion of 2600^th anniversary of the birth of Bhagwan Mahavir, the 24^th and the last Tirthankara, in 2001, a special 100 Rupee coin was minted, as a celebration to mark the occasion, with a    Swastika on it.

-  ‘Swastika’ is a common name among people of this sect.

For the Jainis Swastika represents the four possible places of rebirth - Heaven, Hell, Earth and Animal/Plant world.

SWASTIKA’s importance in other religions/sects

ASIA

In virtually every Far-East country the symbol of Swastika is most commonly associated with Buddhism. These are commonly found in Buddhist temples and on religious artifacts, texts books and schools founded by Buddhist religious groups.

The Red Swastika Society, a syncretic religious group which aspires to unify different sects like Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism, uses the Swastika as its symbol of its aspiration, its moral values and its principles. The society presently runs ‘The Red Swastika Society Tai Po Secondary School’ and ‘Hong Kong Red Swastika Society Tuen Mun Primary School’ in Hong Kong and ‘The Red Swastika School’ in Singapore.

 



In Japan the sign of Swastika is used to mark a Buddhist Temple on its maps. In Hirosaki, a city in Japan, the Aomori prefecture uses Swastika on it official flag which stems from its use in the emblem of ‘Tsugaru clan’ of Hirosaki Domain in the Edo era.

Tajikistan: In 2005, The President Emomali Rahmonov declared the Swastika as an Aryan symbol and declared 2006 as the ‘The Year of The Aryan Culture’ which was to be used to ‘Study and popularize Aryan contribution to the history of the world civilization and raise a new generation of Tajiks with the national spirit of self-determination and to develop deeper ties with other ethnicities and cultures. In the same year the Tajik authorities also called for widespread adoption of the Swastika as a national symbol.

EUROPE-ASIA

Earliest use of the Swastika in modern Europe can be traced back to the neolithic Vinča culture of South-Eastern Europe. The evidence of pan-European use of this symbol, primarily as a motif . The earliest Swastika from Europe is probably the one found carved on a late paleolithic mammoth ivory in Mezine, Ukraine. This figurine is estimated to be nearly 12,000 years old.

Evidences are also found from the Iron Age of the Celts, Germanics, Greeks, Slavs and Indo-Iranian cultures.

A pendant from Bolsena, Italy,
7th Century bce.

Mosque at Isfahan, Iran

The swastika can be seen on the floor of the synagogue at Ein Gedi, built during the Roman occupation of Judea. It was decorated with a swastika.

Some Christian churches built in the Romanesque and Gothic eras also have Swastikas, carrying over earlier Roman designs. Swastikas are prominently displayed in a mosaic in the St. Sophia church of Kiev, Ukraine dating to the 12th century.

Swastikas also appear as a repeating ornamental motif on a tombs in the Basilica of St. Ambrose, in Milan, Italy.

The Muslim "Friday" mosque of Isfahan, Iran and the Taynal Mosque in Tripoli, Lebanon both have Swastika motifs.

Greek helmet with Swastika - 350 bce

The swastika, also known as the flyfot in northwestern Europe, appears on many pre-Christian artefacts, drawn both clockwise and counterclockwise, within a circle or in a swirling form. The Greek goddess Athena was sometimes portrayed as wearing robes covered with swastikas.

The "Ogham stone" found in County Kerry, Ireland is inscribed with several Swastikas dating to the fifth century AD, and is believed to have been an altar stone of the Druids. The pre-Christian Anglo-Saxon ship burial at Sutton Hoo, England, contains gold cups and shields bearing swastikas .

The Swastikas are prominently displayed on graves of many ancient graves. It is believed that the graves belong to some of the most respected and prominent people of their times.

SWASTIKA’s
use by neo-religions/sects

Symbol of Theosophical
Society with Swastika

Since ancient times many religions have come into existence and disappeared over a Period of time.

* The ‘Theosophical Society’ uses a swastika as part of its seal, along with an ‘OM’, a hexagram or (The Star of David), an ‘Ankh (eye-आंख)’ and an Ourobos (or, Uroborous) and is Presently used with a text which states, “There is no religion greater than Truth’.

The Raelian symbol with
the Swastika

* The ‘Raelian Movement’ which believes that the Extra-Terrestrials created all earth on life, have a controversial symbol which includes an interlaced ‘Swastika’ and ‘Star of David’. The two, according to the followers represent the ‘Infinity of time’ and ‘Infinity in space’ respectively.

In 1991, the original symbol was changed. The Swastika was removed from the centre of their symbol, displaying their respect to the millions of Jews who were killed by the Nazis in the WW II holocaust.

However, in 2007, the original symbol was re-instated and continues to remain the same in present day.

Anand-Marg Symbol

*‘Anand Marg’ - आनन्द मार्ग (Path of Bliss) is a ‘Tantra-तंत्र’ based religion. It uses an interesting motif as a symbol. This motif is a ‘Star of David’ (calling it an intersection of Triangles, without any Jewish reference), with ‘Swastika’ at the centre, and an eye above it. The Anand Marg symbol is strikingly similar to that of the believers of the ‘Raelian Movement’.

The Falun Gong symbol

* The Oriental Falun Gong (or Falun Dafa)  use a Chinese traditional symbol which  has a large ‘Swastika’ at the centre surrounded by four smaller, pin-rounded ones, interspersed with ‘Yin and yang’, making it appear like a ‘Chakra’ surrounding the Swastika.

The followers of the ‘Odinism’ religion (they believe that it was the orignal Indo-European religion in the pre-Christian era) claim that the ‘Swastika’is their holy symbol, as it was originally.

A  HOMAGE to the victims of the Holocaust 

I dedicate section as a homage to the millions of Jews who were killed by the Nazis during the second World War holocaust, and to their surviving family members as a message of condolence and as a respect to the innocent people who were killed by a despicable regime which used the Swastika as its symbol. A symbol which represents progress, prosperity, peace and knowledge was used by an evil regime for the purely vested interest of ethnic cleansing and political power. The Nazis, and especially the hierarchy, had very little knowledge of the true meaning of Swastika.

The Swastika is a symbol which represents everything good, the virtues of the Human Civilization. It was grossly misused  and propagated for every act which is contrary to what the Swastika represents. The fact that the Nazi regime perished is a sign that such a noble and Divine symbol should not be misused in any manner.

I sincerely hope that the world is a much peaceful place, always.

I have intentionally omitted inserting a picture of the 'Swastika' as used by the Nazis because I consider it as a blasphemy. Swastika is a symbol of nobility, honor, good luck and auspiciousness. The Nazis did not use any on these virtues for the motif they used as their symbol.

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The Swastika is a universal symbol – a symbol which encompasses every corner of the world in one way or another.

This presentation is based on my own understanding of the subject, based on my research.
I welcome further feeds, information and guidance on this subject.

Best Wishes & Good Luck!

Siddharth S. Sinha
सिद्धार्थ स. सिन्हा

ssselan@yahoo.in