Symbolism

The swastika is often seen as a symbol of art with cumulative meaning that can be used as a medium of expression. A clamp down on self-expression is a clamp down on freedom. Any government that attempts to do that, especially in a democratic setting, is bound to fail.

The rise of the use of the swastika as a sign of freedom further elucidates the complexity of the topic.

“Germany has formulated policies that prohibit the public display of the swastika.”

The swastika has been surfacing more in the United States than in Germany. Following the post-war era, Germany has formulated policies that prohibit the public display of the swastika and all other symbols that represent the Nazis. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has condemned the march that took place recently in Charlottesville, Virginia, calling it racist. She explained that such a thing would not happen in today’s Germany.

America protects the right of neo-Nazis, the Ku Klux Klan, white supremacists and other groups to hold public rallies and openly express their views. In recent times, some of the public rallies protesting against one policy or another have made use of the swastika as a sign of freedom.

Most people in western nations are having a hard time reconciling the history of the swastika with what it is currently known for today. Western nations, in particular, have trouble associating the swastika with anything besides the Nazis. This robs the swastika symbol of its historic identity.

A few of those who were privileged to witness the true identity of the swastika before the rise of the Nazi regime are still alive.

They will know that the swastika is a symbol of good luck and freedom and will not be afraid to wield it as such in public.

“The subtle push to reclaim the swastika is mostly spearheaded by these groups of people.”

A number of those who are not afraid to display the swastika in public, particularly in Western countries, are those who learned the true meaning of the symbol either through oral tradition or through extensive research. The subtle push to reclaim the swastika is mostly spearheaded by these groups of people.

The swastika has featured in old religions like Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism. Ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians, Greeks, Celts and Romans also used the symbol. One thing is certain; if the swastika was as bad as it is currently portrayed as being, it simply would not have endured through time.

No doubt, the meaning of the swastika has suffered a serious blow due to the misguided representation of fact by Adolf Hitler. Another great problem that the swastika has is that it can have different meaning depending on the way it rotates. The clockwise rotation is seen as a symbol of god Vishnu (a Hindu god) while the counterclockwise orientation of swastika is thought to represent Kali.

What we do not fully understand, we scorn. We cannot blame the attitude of those who do not see the swastika as a symbol of freedom especially when it has been used to propagate hatred, racism and the near-annihilation of the Jews.

The swastika means different things to different cultures and religion. To the Jews, it is a symbol of hate and annihilation, while to the Buddhists it is a symbol of good fortune. What many people currently know about the swastika is myopic. The ancient symbol has lots of interesting facts surrounding it. Here are eight of them that you need to know.

1. The Swastika Is One Of The Most Enduring Symbols Used By Humanity

There are different versions of the origin of the swastika. The simple swastika appeared in the Neolithic culture in South Eastern Europe 7,000 years ago, so scholars say. But the oldest known use of the symbol dates back to the end of the last Ice Age. The swastika has been used by the Balkans for at least 8,000 years. Archeological evidence of the Indus-Saraswati civilization shows that the swastika has been in use since 4,000 BCE.

2. The Swastika Resurfaced In The 19th Century In North America And Europe As A Symbol Of Good Luck

Prior to its adoption by the Nazis, the swastika was seen on Coca-Cola and beer bottles. The badges of Boy Scouts in the United States and other scouting groups across Europe had a swastika on them. Up until the rise of the Nazis, the 45th Infantry of the US Army used the swastika as a sleeve insignia in the 1920s.

3. The Long Positive History Of The Swastika Was Reaffirmed In 2008

There was a second Hindu-Jewish Leadership Summit in 2008. One of the resolutions reached at the summit was the reaffirmation of the swastika as a sacred and auspicious symbol. The participants agreed on the ancient significance of the symbol before it was misappropriated.

4. The Four Limbs Of The Swastika Has Symbolic Meanings In Hinduism

The four limbs of the swastika are seen as the four Vedas -Atharvaa, Rig, Sama and Yajur. These are the core Hindu scriptures. They are often translated as the four goals of life: Dharma (right action), Artha (worldly prosperity), Kama (worldly enjoyment), and Moksha (spiritual liberation). Other interpretations of the limbs are the four seasons, the four yugas and the four directions.

5. Hindus Adorn The Entrance To Their Homes With The Swastika

On October 30^th, during the Diwali, many Hindu worshippers decorated the front entrance of their homes with a swastika. They either wash off old ones and reapply them or make it a part of their rangoli -a traditional form of art that uses dyed powders, flowers or rice and grains to form a patterned decoration on the ground of courtyards.

6. Different Faiths Originating In India Use The Swastika With Similar Auspicious Meaning

The swastika is not particular to Hinduism alone. It had different significance for different faith traditions in India, although the meanings were somewhat similar. The Buddhists see the swastika as the footprint and heart of Buddha. For the Jains, it is a symbol of the seventh Tirthankara, while the arms signify the four possible places a soul can be reborn in the birth and death circle.

7. The Swastika Represents The Four Natural Elements

If you look at the swastika from a geometric point of view, it takes the shape of an irregular icosagon -or a polygon with 20 sides.

It has been considered a dynamic solar symbol representing the four natural elements: air, earth, fire and water.

8. The Swastika Was A Symbol Of Decoration

Some of the religions or faith groups now identified with the swastika were not in existence during the early history of the symbol. It has been seen on unearthed clay pots and other artifacts which suggest that they may have been used for decorative purposes.

There are other facts surrounding the swastika which you can find here. Having an idea of some of the facts surrounding the symbols will help you to appreciate its use.