Very interesting info on Swastika..You will now appreciate the Hindu relationship with the rest of the world!!
The Story Of The Swastika: What It Was Before And Why Hitler Picked It - All Day
The Story Of The Swastika: What It Was Before And Why Hitler Picked It
By
Shea Huffman
Photo:
Valdavia/Wikimedia Commons
In the Western world, the swastika is the symbol of fascism and the Nazis. But Hitler's movement in Germany didn't invent the symbol, as its origins can be traced back to the earliest days of human history as a sacred and auspicious symbol in numerous religions.
So how was the swastika used before the Nazis adopted it, and why did Hitler pick it to represent the party?
Wikimedia Commons
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Early Symbols of the Bronze Age
The earliest known object with swastika-motifs is
carving on the tusk of a mammoth found in the Ukraine dated to 10,000 BC. The symbol continued in use into the Bronze Age in the Indus Valley as part of early Hindu religions. Why the symbol was first used remains a matter of archaeological debate, with some believing it sprang up along with cross symbols used to represent gods, and that its four arms could represent the four elements of nature or the four seasons.
Malaiya/Wikimedia Commons
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Jainism
The swastika is one of the principal symbols of one of the oldest religions in the world: Jainism. Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of total nonviolence towards all living beings, and emphasizes spiritual interdependence and equality between all life. In the religion, the swastika symbolizes the different states of the soul in the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
Vivek Joshi/Wikimedia Commons
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Hindusim
In Hinduism, the swastika is the symbol for God in his universal manifestation, as well as the four directions of the world. It often appears on examples of Hindu architecture, and is used in various rituals.
John Hill/Wikimedia Commons
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Buddhism
The swastika appears in Buddhist iconography as well as graphical representation of eternity.
Valdavia/Wikimedia Commons
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Ancient Rome And Greece
The swastika also appeared in ancient Greece, often printed on coins, as well as in Greco-Roman architecture as repeating or interlinking motifs. The symbol is believed to be used more as a representation of perpetual motion, such as with a windmill, rather than as a significant religious symbol.
Artak Kolyan/Wikimedia Commons
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Armenia
In early Armenian history, the swastika was known as the "arevakhach" and "kerkhach," and was used as the ancient symbol of eternity and eternal light, and often appeared in petroglyphs, or in the architecture of Medieval churches.
National Archives/Wikimedia Commons
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Native American Symbols
The swastika also appeared in the iconography of several Native American tribes, usually as symbols of tribes, or representations of sacred objects used in rituals. Use of the symbol persisted up until the onset of World War II.
Finnish Military
The Finnish Air Force used the swastika as an emblem starting in 1918, viewing it as a symbol of good luck. After World War II, the Finnish government stopped using the symbol.
T
he Nazis
When Hitler created a flag for the Nazi Party, he sought to incorporate the swastika as a symbol for life, as well as the German and Aryan race, reasoning that early Aryans of India were the original white invaders. Other German nationalist groups were using the swastika as well during the 20s and 30s.
Contemporary Use
Today, the swastika continues to be used in regions like Southeast Asia, where it is a symbol for wealth and good fortune. In East Asia, as well as India, it continues to maintain its status as a religious symbol, and can be viewed affixed to numerous temples, though the swastika may be reversed in direction in order to differentiate it from the Nazi usage.