What is the real meaning of the Buddhist religious symbol known as the Swastika?
The swastika symbol can be found in archaeological sites all over the world including ancient Europe, Asia, America (among the indigenous Indians), and so on. These relics show that the swastika has a long history. In modern times, the swastika is most famous as the corporate logo for the Nazi party of Hitler's Germany. Before that, it had an exalted Indian history and played a role in many religions, not least of which was Buddhism and esoteric Hinduism.
Generally, the swastika is a symbol meaning "good fortune." Most people seem to have forgotten that. The origin of swastika may be otherworldly. As a mark on the Buddha's body, it represents the Buddha's level and status in heaven. A Tathagata ("Perfected One") is represented with one swastika on the body, usually the chest. Other Buddhas imagined to be greater have more. Arhats and Bodhisattvas do not have any.
Swastikas (facing in either direction) have been found in ancient Greece. While it is a Buddhist religious symbol, and Buddhism reached ancient Greece, not all swastikas are Buddhist. Ancient Vedic cultures (extending through modern day Pakistan, Afghanistan, and all the way through the ancient Greek world, came in contact with the West before then.
Hitler stole the swastika and used it for his own ends. Not only this ancient "Aryan" symbols, but the very mythology of Aryans comes from Buddhist teachings on the "noble" origins of Indian culture as having originated in the pre-Indus Valley civilization from the north (Persian, Iraqi, Middle Eastern, or otherworldly, it is not know. Not only this symbol and story but other esoteric ideas stemming largely from Theosophical teachings introduced to Western Europe by Madame Blavatsky were appropriated by Hitler and his advisers, who were very interested in astrology, mythology, and the occult. It has a much longer human history than the Nazi symbol. In Buddhism, the swastika is generally level and not painted black, whereas the Nazi symbol is tilted pointing upwards and is almost always black with a distinctive red and white background.
- Originally appeared at foreigners-in-china.com
- http://www.swastika-info.com/; "The True Legends of Swastika": a collection of swastika symbols from all over the world.
- Heinrich Schliemann "The City and Country of the Trojans", 1881, pp. 291,292,425.
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