If you are a child of western culture then the symbol of the German Nazi party, the swastika, is redolent with the fetid odour of racism and genocide. It is difficult for us to look at it and experience anything other than distaste. The symbol itself, however, predates the German Nazi party by thousands of years and is a sacred Hindu symbol.
The swastika is a symbol of Ganesh (click here to find out about him) and represents good fortune/health, in fact the word itself is a corruption of the ancient Sandscrit word SVASTIKAH, which means 'being fortunate'.
When you are travelling in India the swastika is everywhere. Swastika Electric & SC.Works, for example, make a range of microscopes and other scientific equipment. You can buy swastika oil, swastika blankets, swastika packaging, the list is enormous. People adorn their doors with swastikas, there are swastika ornaments, MSN India even has swastika wall paper for your pc, see below.
It is most disconcerting until you manage to separate this symbol from its recent horrific associations and align it with its original meaning of good health and good fortune.
There are many jewels hidden amongst the leaves in this forgotten part of the ancient forest. Spend some time browsing and you are sure to find some. Click here or continue your search below
or read the most recent entries here.It's not just a Hindu symbol. It's been in use for well over a thousand years by the Christian faith, especially the Eastern Orthodoxy, where it is thought of as the "bent cross" or "crooked cross." There are even Orthodox churches laid out in the pattern of the swastika.
Note that the arms are sometimes bent in the other direction. Also, Hitler's did innovate it a little, in that he mae that 45 degree tilt the standard way to display it in Germany.
Posted by: Dean Esmay at September 22, 2003 02:19 PMThanks Dean, I wasn't aware of the Christian connection
Posted by: GreenMan at September 22, 2003 02:36 PMInteresting stuff, most informative. I just went to the Holocaust museum yesterday, and while that's still fresh it's hard to disconnect the Nazi's from the Swastika. The Indian style of swastika does look kind of cool though.
Posted by: Luke at September 22, 2003 03:44 PMAnd the buddhists use it too- Mount Kailash supposedly has a naturally occurring one on its flanks somewhere.
Posted by: Homie Bear at September 23, 2003 04:11 AMYou may be interested in a new club that is being organized, the Swastika Club of America.To be very certain about it no Nazis of any description are welcome. The club is intended to focus on American swastika usage, both historically and in the here-and-now in graphic art and other arts. I am a recently retired college teacher (history, comparative Religion) who is at work on a book about the symbol,something that makes use of my collection of about 1500 swastika designs from around the world, many of them American. As well I am in the process of putting together a Swastika Atlas of the US and Canada that shows swastika place names and locates buildings that feature swastika designs. For more information you have my e-mail address. however, I am new to the Web and it will be a while before a Web page is up and running so for now I am limited to e-mail replies or sending materials via snail mail.There is no membership fee at this time but in the future when it is possible to distribute a newsletter some sort of subscription is unavoidable eveb if free memberships without the newsletter would still be possible. Anyway, the idea is to create an organization in which people with a serious interest in the symbol, especially in an American context,can work together for mutual advantage,
Posted by: Billy Rojas at June 11, 2004 02:28 PMI Couldnt agree with you more. It is still a good symbol in regards to nazi use. Think about what an excellent job the minister of propoganda did with the swastika for nazi germany. They were able to turn the symbol into a very powerful image, one that struck fear into the hearts of their opponents, and is still highly recognized today.
Posted by: Andzdab at May 1, 2005 01:13 PMwhen the swastika is bent the other way why is it done. and who does it.
Posted by: phantom04 at September 24, 2005 01:38 PMthe Swastika Club of America? info please.
Posted by: Potential at December 13, 2005 05:11 AMDear Internet Visitors,
Subject: Why do you discriminate Swastik and Hitler? :: Open www.swastik.org :: Read Chapter 4
I am Owner of www.swastik.org, I spent nearly 4 years to develop this website. I have been seeing discrimination of Blacks, Swastik and Hitler for last 10 years. At last I want to disclose some secretes of Swastik and Hitler. Definition of Swastik is Lord Vishnu’s Vishnu Chakra, It is not SWASTIK_A but it is SWASTIK. Character A shouldn’t be there at the end of SWASTIK, OK. Well, Regarding Hitler? He was Prophet “King Of Jews”. Hitler didn’t kill 6 Million Jews but far less then 6 Million. Hitler did Jews Holocaust drama to scare Jews to leave from Europe to God Promised Land Jerusalem (Israel). Holy Book Bible clearly says that Jerusalem (Israel) is the homeland for Jews. If Hitler didn’t do Holocaust drama Jews wouldn’t have got God Promised Land Jerusalem (Israel). So if you want more details read chapter 4 in www.swastik.org. Remember don’t misuse this website. I am Hindu, I read all Holy Books, I am from India and I am Black man. Ok. Note: Hitler didn’t die in bunker in Germany..
Thanking you Internet Visitors,
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