Swastika symbol is too significant for hindu people in India. Also
there are many other cultures like Budhha, Jainism for which Swastika symbol
has meaning and significance. Swastika has Sanskrit origin from the word
'Svastika' that means lucky or auspicious thing and well being. If we
further look into the word then the su means good, vasti or svasti means
well being and ka is the suffix used for verbal meaning. Therefore good
fortune and luck is associated with Swastika symbol. It is made in red color
with cross mark depicting four arms of equal length that are bent at right
angle.
History of Swastika Symbol
Archaeological records show the
Swastika symbols in various cultures and civilizations. This include
Indo-Aryan, Indus Valley Civilization, Slavs, Greeks and Celts. Swastika
motifs were there is neolithic period. Khuzestan province of Iran and “Vinca
script of Neolithic Europe showed the presence of Swastika symbols. Also it
was found in the archaeological surveys on in Early Bronze age and Iron age.
But it is the Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Shamanism and Mithraism where the
Swastika symbol became a sacred symbol.
Swastika Significance in Hinduism
Swastika symbol is substantial
for Hindus. If you have experienced then not even a single work of their
life begins without Swastika symbol on it. Right and left Swastika symbol in
Hinduism has different meaning. The right one is the evolution of the
universe and the left one is the involution of the universe. Swastika symbol
also represents the God
Sun. Almost all Hindu yantra like
shree yantra,
accessories and religious designs has Swastika symbol on them. Even the
auspicious occasions, temples, pictures, sacred signs, houses, doorways,
ceremonies have the Swastik symbol on them.
Swastika Significance in Buddhism
5th century BC in India saw the
origin of Buddhism who used Swastika symbol to represent the balance between
opposite and universal harmony. Pillars of Ashoka also has the Swastika
symbol on it and there it guards against evil and symbolises cosmic dance
around some fixed center. Some statues of Gautam Buddha also incised with
Swastik symbol on chest and soles of feet. The Buddist Swastika outside
India are mostly left facing. The Chinese use this on the food packing to
show that the product is pure vegetarian and for Buddhists. Also collars of
Chinese children clothes have this symbol to keep away the evils.
Swastika Significance in Jainism
In Jainism the Swastika
symbolises the jina, (Saint), the Tirthankara Suparsva. Swastika symbol is
one of the 24 auspicious marks and all Jain temples and holy books have this
symbol. Even all their ceremonies begin with the Swastika mark made from
rice around altar.
Swastika Significance in Mongolia
In Mongolia the meaning of
Swastika symbol is eternity.
Swastika Significance in Mongolia
In Japan it represents Buddha
temple.
Even other countries like Finland, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Ireland,
Iceland, Brazil and United States show the Swastika symbol on different
things.
