Swastica in South India?

Question

Why do people have the Swastica on the back of trucks, on flags, and other places ..in India...?????????What's the Indian meaning? Is it to follow Hitler???LOL

WOW! some people think I am being racist. I am about the least racist person you can ever meet!.. I am married to a dark south Indian man, and can't stand white skin (even though im white)!!! Don't misunderstand my question. Also, I agree I am not educated on the history of the Swastica. Why else would I have asked???? Duh??? I find in ironic that the people who accused me of being ignorant can't use proper English!

Answer 1

Swastika
The Ancient Symbol

The earliest Buddhist icon was Ashokab edicts inscribed on monothlithic stone pillars found not in India, but as far ends as Agfanistan and Pakistan.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SwastikaChinese called it, "WAN" Zi, Japanese named it "MAN" Ji, Tibetan read it as "GYUNG-DRUNG" or GEG-GSANG. The word swastika is derived from the Sanskrit means, "conducive to well- being". S-vasti in Sanskrit is "It's well"

Swastika is a symbol of prosperity and good fortune and is widely dispersed in both the ancient and modern world. It originally represented the revolving sun, fire, or life. The swastika was widely utilized in ancient Mesopotamian coinage as well as appearing in early Christian and Byzantium art, where it was known as the gammadion cross. The swastika also appeared in South and Central America, widely used in Mayan art during that time period.

Swastika is an equilateral cross with arms bent at right angles, all in the same direction, usually the right, or clockwise. In North America, the swastika was a symbol used by the Navajos. The swastika still continues today to be an extensively used sign in Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism.

In Buddhism, a Swastika represents resignation. Usually found in the images of Buddha on His chest, palms, soles of feet. In Jainism, it delineates their seventh saint, and the four arms are also used to remind the worshiper of the four possible places of rebirth; the animal or plant world, in Hell, on Earth, or in the spirit world. To Hindus, the swastika with the arms bent to the left is called the sathio or sauvastika, which symbolizes night, magic, purity, and the destructive goddess Kali.

In both Hinduism and Jainism, the Swastika or sathio is used to mark the opening pages or their account books, thresholds, doors, and offerings. The swastika was a symbol for the Aryan people, a name which, in Sanskrit means "noble". The Aryans were a group of people who settled in Iran and Northern India. They believed themselves to be a pure race, superior to the other surrounding cultures.

Historical Use of the Swastika
Was Atlantis the birthplace of the Swastika? Or The fabled motherland called Mu? Found on the genital shields of aboriginal Brazilian women. Greek priestesses branded Swastikas on their arms. Goddess figures dug up at ancient Troy by Dr. Schliemann have Swastikas on the vulva. Romans took the Swastika with them on their march across Europe. Most antiquarians agree that Egyptians had no Swastika except those taken there by Coptic Christians.

As An Eastern Cultural Symbol
A magical sign tattooed on women to ensure fertility. Gold weights from West Africa. A favorite ornament in China and Japan. Ninja throwing stars. Tattooed on monks in Tibet. The Dalai Lama's throne is always decorated with four Swastikas. In India people mark their cows, fields, homes, shrines with the Swastika, a sign of good luck and fertility. When the last czar of Russia was imprisoned with his family in 1917, the Romanoff girls embroidered lucky swastikas on fabric before their deaths by the Bolsheviks.


As a Mystical Symbol
Hindu uses. Sacred Fire. Ganesha. Every holy spot is marked with a Swastika. Sacred Heart of Buddha. Buddha's footprints marked with Swastikas. The Jains, who believe in non-violence, make the sign of the Swastika as often as Catholics make the sign of the cross. In Bali, Shiva's lingam (penis) is a Swastika. Christian symbol from the catacombs. Gnostic graffiti includes Swastikas and Stars of David side by side. Occult Swastikas include Theosophists, Rosicrucians, Masons, Golden Dawn, Transcendental Meditation, Pythagorus, Madame Blavatsky, Krishnamurti, Rudolf Steiner, William Butler Yeats. Aliester Crowley claimed Hitler stole the Swastika from him.

As An Archetypal Symbol

The Swavastika or backwards Swastika. Types of Swastikas. Various names for the Swastika-- Hakenkreuz, Gammadion, Fylfot, Tetraskelion, Meander. Amulets, talismans and hex signs.

Adolf Hitler adopted the left-handed symbol. During his campaign, 6 millions Jews died in his hand during WWII. Hence, the icon caused confusion to many Europeans and Jews to think it was a similiar icon used by the Eastern faiths (Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism). The right hand ( clockwise)Swastika used by these religions which practice ahimsa ( non-violence) since ancient time. It should never be mistaken as the left-hand (counterclockwise) Swastika .

The Germanic Swastika
Many ask about SS Swastika, why it was adopted, and what it symbolizes for National Socialism. The following is a brief commentary on the subject which we hope will clear up any confusion and explain the significance of the Swastika: Most people assume that it was Adolf Hitler who selected the Swastika for the National Socialist emblem. Adolf Hitler indeed designed the National Socialist flag and much of the insignia, but the Swastika was already earmarked for the party standard before he became a member of the German Worker's Party (DAP).

In 1919 Adolf Hitler was serving as an agent for the army, observing various nationalist and Folkish political parties, when he decided to join the German Worker's Party (DAP), which later became the National Socialist German Worker's Party (NSDAP). Although not well known, there was a very good reason for his decision to join this particular party. The German Worker's Party was founded, protected, and secretly financed by the Thule Gemeinschaft, referred to henceforth by its common English rendering of Thule Society, which was considered to be the most prestigious and powerful secret Folkish organization in Germany.

The Thule Society

The Thule society was a strongly anti-Jewish, anti-Marxist, Nordicist organization, which was dedicated to the creation of a Folkish State and the higher evolution of the Aryan race. They had a real understanding of the gulf between the working and the upper classes - and the necessity of closing that gap in order to realize the desired Folkish State. Its membership numbered a wide range of influential legal professionals, university professors, police officials, industrialists, physicians and scientists. Besides the German Worker's Party, The Thule Society subsidized the Oberland Freikorps and it controlled Bavaria's leading anti-Jewish newspaper; The Voelkischer Beobachter. It is quite revealing that Dietrich Eckart, Alfred Rosenberg, and Max Amann, who later became editor, assistant editor, and business manager of the VoelkischerBeobachter when it was sold to the NSDAP, were all Thule Society members.

The Swastika was the official symbol of the Thule Society. The Swastika was prominently displayed on the organization's letterheads and literature, and Swastika banners adorned its meetings. The NSDAP merely inherited the Swastika from its mentor, which, apparently, it ultimately absorbed as Thule Society members all became NSDAP members.

The Meaning of the Swastika

The only official reference to the meaning of the National Socialist Swastika which we have encountered is in Chapter 7 of the 2nd volume of Mein Kampf: "As National Socialists we see our program in our flag. In the red, we see the social idea of the movement, in the white, the nationalistic idea, in the Swastika, the mission of the struggle for the victory of Aryan man, and at the same time, also the victory of the idea of creative work, which in itself is, and will always be, anti-Semitic." This, of course, is probably only one aspect of a deeper meaning which was given to the Swastika, but we have never encountered reference to any such deeper meaning given by the Thule Society or the NSDAP. However, an investigation of some of the historical and esoteric uses of The Swastika certainly gives us some insight into its significance.
Most of us are aware that the Swastika is a sacred symbol in many lands and in many traditions. However, since the Thule Society was a Folkish Move

Answer 2

Early in The Secret Doctrine, H.P.B. discusses the meaning of a progressive series of symbols. First an empty circle appears, then a diameter bisects it, followed by a cross within a circle and, finally, a swastica within a circle. The circle with a diameter represents divine nature within absolute infinitude. The cross within the circle represents the beginning of human life. The swastica has the same, as well as other, meanings. It is called the male and female sign, and appears in an ancient Indian Catechism, on the hermaphrodite goddess Ardha-Nari, in place of the navel, symbolizing the pre-sexual state of the Third Race

Answer 3

They did not follow Hitler but Hiitler stole that symbol and gave it another meaning.

Swastika is named from the Sanskit "so be it" or "amen", the swastika has been a religious emblem of worldwide occurence since at least 10.000 B.C. It appeared on the oldest coinage in India, on images of Buddha in Japan, and on Greek an Roman figures of the Great Goddes. On artifacts dating from the thirteenth century B.C. onward, the swastika has been found in Asia Minor, Greece, China, Persia, Libya, Scandinavia, Britain and Iceland. It was still used as a magic sign in Europe up to the beginning of the twentieth century.
A swastika with arms pointing clockwise was generally regarded as a solar emblem. A counterclockwise one (sauvastika) represented the moon, night and the feminine principle. The swastika was much used in medieval church decoration and heraldry, where it was known as the croix gammée, fylfot, gamma cross, or croix cramponnée. ("hook cross, "German Hakenkreuz) It was adopted by Hitler's Third Reich on the supposition that it was a "pure Aryan" sign. This was not true, although a variant eight-armed swastika had long represented German anti-Semitic secret societies like the Vehmgericht. A twelve tailed German swastika appeared in magic books as a victory charm.

Answer 4

No, it's the buddhist sign. It turns the opposite way of the Swastica. It's been there since thousand of years. Way before Hitler was born.

Answer 5

The swastika is a sacred symbol in Hinduism and Jainism.However, in the Western world, it is most widely known and used as a symbol of Nazism. The word first appears in the Classical Sanskrit (in the Ramayana and Mahabharata epics).
for more details refer to the below link

Answer 6

No, Guering adopted the symbol of the swastica from eastern mythology.

Answer 7

Swastica symbol in sanskrit means concentration of energy. The symbol shows concentration of energy from all 4 directions to the center which is the brain. I am not sure why they have it on the back of the truck....maybe..some people have their brains on their hind side....LOL

Answer 8

The swastika is an extremely powerful symbol. The Nazis used it to murder millions of people, but for centuries it had positive meanings. What is the history of the swastika? Does it now represent good or evil?

The Oldest Known Symbol

The swastika is an ancient symbol that has been used for over 3,000 years. (That even predates the ancient Egyptian symbol, the Ankh!) Artifacts such as pottery and coins from ancient Troy show that the swastika was a commonly used symbol as far back as 1000 BCE.

During the following thousand years, the image of the swastika was used by many cultures around the world, including in China, Japan, India, and southern Europe. By the Middle Ages, the swastika was a well known, if not commonly used, symbol but was called by many different names:

China - wan
England - fylfot
Germany - Hakenkreuz
Greece - tetraskelion and gammadion
India - swastika
Though it is not known for exactly how long, Native Americans also have long used the symbol of the swastika.
The Original Meaning

The word "swastika" comes from the Sanskrit svastika - "su" meaning "good," "asti" meaning "to be," and "ka" as a suffix.

Until the Nazis used this symbol, the swastika was used by many cultures throughout the past 3,000 years to represent life, sun, power, strength, and good luck.

Even in the early twentieth century, the swastika was still a symbol with positive connotations. For instance, the swastika was a common decoration that often adorned cigarette cases, postcards, coins, and buildings. During World War I, the swastika could even be found on the shoulder patches of the American 45th Division and on the Finnish air force until after World War II.

A Change in Meaning

In the 1800s, countries around Germany were growing much larger, forming empires; yet Germany was not a unified country until 1871. To counter the feeling of vulnerability and the stigma of youth, German nationalists in the mid-nineteenth century began to use the swastika, because it had ancient Aryan/Indian origins, to represent a long Germanic/Aryan history.

By the end of the nineteenth century, the swastika could be found on nationalist German volkisch periodicals and was the official emblem of the German Gymnasts' League.

In the beginning of the twentieth century, the swastika was a common symbol of German nationalism and could be found in a multitude of places such as the emblem for the Wandervogel, a German youth movement; on Joerg Lanz von Liebenfels' antisemitic periodical Ostara; on various Freikorps units; and as an emblem of the Thule Society.

Hitler and the Nazis

In 1920, Adolf Hitler decided that the Nazi Party needed its own insignia and flag. For Hitler, the new flag had to be "a symbol of our own struggle" as well as "highly effective as a poster." (Mein Kampf, pg. 495)

On August 7, 1920, at the Salzburg Congress, this flag became the official emblem of the Nazi Party.

In Mein Kampf, Hitler described the Nazis' new flag: "In red we see the social idea of the movement, in white the nationalistic idea, in the swastika the mission of the struggle for the victory of the Aryan man, and, by the same token, the victory of the idea of creative work, which as such always has been and always will be anti-Semitic." (pg. 496-497)

Because of the Nazis' flag, the swastika soon became a symbol of hate, antisemitism, violence, death, and murder.

What Does the Swastika Mean Now?

There is a great debate as to what the swastika means now. For 3,000 years, the swastika meant life and good luck. But because of the Nazis, it has also taken on a meaning of death and hate.

These conflicting meanings are causing problems in today's society. For Buddhists and Hindus, the swastika is a very religious symbol that is commonly used. Chirag Badlani shares a story about one time when he went to make some photocopies of some Hindu Gods for his temple. While standing in line to pay for the photocopies, some people behind him in line noticed that one of the pictures had a swastika. They called him a Nazi.

Unfortunately, the Nazis were so effective at their use of the swastika emblem, that many do not even know any other meaning for the swastika. Can there be two completely opposite meanings for one symbol?

In ancient times, the direction of the swastika was interchangeable as can be seen on an ancient Chinese silk drawing.

Some cultures in the past had differentiated between the clockwise swastika and the counter-clockwise sauvastika. In these cultures the swastika symbolized health and life while the sauvastika took on a mystical meaning of bad-luck or misfortune.

But since the Nazis use of the swastika, some people are trying to differentiate the two meanings of the swastika by varying its direction - trying to make the clockwise, Nazi version of the swastika mean hate and death while the counter-clockwise version would hold the ancient meaning of the symbol, life and good-luck.

Answer 9

Swastica is symbol for life in tolerance and in understanding.

Answer 10

No it isn't to follow Hitler you racist freak. It was and still is a holy, religious symbol that symbolizes Brahma. Hitler stole the swastika, reversed the direction of it, and made it the symbol of the Nazis. In the eastern world it is a sacred symbol, but westerners associate with Nazi Germany. 卐 is the sacred swastika while this 卍 is Hitler's left facing swastika.

Answer 11

In India people especially Hindus engaged in finance and money lenders,pawn brokers have this swastika painted in turmeric sandal either in their pooja room or over the locker where they keep money.Its considered sacred symbol to them.It means profit and the word labh is written in hindi,meaning profit.