The swastika is an ancient symbol of good luck and well-being, appearing in cultures worldwide. Its unfortunate association with the Nazi Party in WWII has left it despised in the West, but it continues to be used positively in many other countries and religions. Its origin may be psychological or astronomical.
Swastika in Sanskrit means “good luck charm” or wish for well-being and luck. A lucky penny, four-leaf clover, or other talisman of positivity could be said to be more or less synonymous with the general meaning of swastika. The swastika’s unfortunate selection as the emblem of the Nazi Party in World War II left the West cold to the symbol sometimes referred to as a broken cross, but its origin is as old as humanity itself, predating modern genocidal associations.
The swastika is a sacred symbol that has appeared since the Stone Age, or in the Neolithic. The oldest evidence of the swastika comes from artifacts unearthed in modern day Iran dating back 7,000 years. Swastikas also appear on Bronze and Iron Age archaeological objects and are closely associated with the peoples of the Mesopotamian regions. The ubiquitous symbol is also found among Indo-European Celts, Greeks, throughout Asia and Africa, and even among Native American peoples.
To the ancient Zoroastrians of Persia, the swastika represented the revolving sun, the source of life-giving fire and infinite creativity. Some scholars believe that this pre-Christian monotheistic religion greatly influenced the development of Judaism, which in turn influenced Christianity and Islam.
The swastika is mentioned in ancient Indian epic poetry, among the oldest known epics in the world. Hindu scriptures are partly based on these poems. In Hinduism, one arm of the swastika represents Brahma, or creation, and the other represents the evolution of that which is created, or consciousness. The four arms also commonly represent the four winds of change or the four cardinal directions.
In Buddhism, the swastika represents the balance of opposites and signifies All That Is, or divine totality. Christianity has used the “hooked cross” or swastika as a symbol of Christ’s ability to overcome death on the cross through resurrection. It might be interesting to note that before the adoption of the symbol by the Nazis in the mid-18th century, the swastika was used as a motif not only in Europe and Asia, but also throughout the United States. Supposedly, in the 1818s, a swastika design could be found in lobbies, on street signs, and even in a Coca-Cola advertising campaign.
In India and many other countries, the swastika continues to be used as a symbol of good luck in wedding celebrations and to bless entrances to homes and temples. Its ubiquitous presence throughout ancient history around the world has led some, such as Carl Jung, to suggest that its origin may be psychological. Astronomer Carl Sagan noted that a spinning comet sometimes takes the form of a swastika, as depicted in at least one ancient manuscript reproduced in Sagan’s book, Comet. Both explanations could give an idea of the origin of the swastika as a symbol that refers to the very origins of humanity.
Unfortunately, in the West, the swastika continues to be used by neo-Nazi groups who practice modern hate. This only reinforces the negative associations established in WWII, ensuring that the historically benevolent swastika remains a despised icon in this part of the world.
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