Is Swastika a Symbol of Evil?
Aby April 12th, 2007
After days of deliberation, I have decided to write something on a cultural issue that I often had arguments with my Anglo-Saxon friends about. In countries like UK or US where Abramaic religions represent a majority of the population, the swastika has very little or no cultural significance. This lack of awareness, coupled with a general taboo of Nazi symbolism give the culturally ’sacred’ Swastika a negative connotation. A symbol that has had a rich history and millenniums of positive cultural meanings is often vilified, because of its resemblance to the Nazi emblem.
The Nazi Emblem Containing the Swastika
The Swastika officially became the emblem for the Nazi Party on August, 7, 1920, at the Salzburg Congress. Describing the new flag in Mein Kampf, the German fuhrer Hitler claimed that the swastika symbolized the victory of the ‘Aryan man’. Hitler had a penchant for distorting religious symbols which could be one of the reasons why he chose swastika with distortions. It is a cultural insult to use the Swastika as a war symbol, propagating a supersitition among Dharmic people(s) that the adoption of Swastika led Hitler to his downfall, despite his overwhelming military might. Today the symbol is commonly associated with Nazi Germany, the Holocaust, neo-Nazis and other hate groups who play on the fear psychosis and ignorance of Jews associated with Swastika.
Right facing Swastika used in a Buddhist temple in China
The Swastika originated and has been used for over 3000 years, with the anti-clockwise swastika dating back to 1000 BCE. It is used as a cultural symbol in China, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Japan, Vietnam and many other Eastern countries. As a religious symbol, the Swastika is used in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and other Dharmic religions.In Buddhism, it represents resignation or enlightenment. In images and statues of Buddha, it could be seen on his chest, palms and feet during meditation or standing position. In Jainism the four arms Swastika re-affirms the belief of cycles of rebirth. The swastika was also a symbol of the Aryan people, a name which, in Sanskrit means “noble”. The Aryans were a group of people who settled in Iran, Northern India, Southern China, Pakistan, Slavic Russia, etc.. They believed themselves to be a pure race, superior to the other surrounding cultures. This inspired the National Socialist Germans to use the Swastika as an Aryan symbol as quite a number of North Germans were Nordic Aryans by ethnicity. Contrary to popular stereotypes, Aryans are not necessarily ‘white skinned blue eyed nordics’. Aryans come from different ethnicities across Eurasia, claiming their nobleness based on their numerous civilisations.
A left facting swastika used by Hindus and Jains
The word swastika is a corruptionof the word S-vasti-ka in Sanskrit which means “hastening of well being”. The Swastika is also given various names in different regions like wan-ji in Eastern China, man-ji in Japan, geg-gsang in Southern China, tetraskelion or gammadion in Greece.. It is a symbol of prosperity and good fortune in the Dharmic and Eastern cultures. It is widely used in both the ancient and modern world. One could find Swastika in temples, road signs, houses and various other public buildings in countries where cultural significance with the swastika is present. It could also be found on shops, necklaces, flags, letter pads and sometimes stamped on ballot papers during elections as a sign of good luck and fortune.
Road Signs in Taiwan Containing Swastika
The presence of Swastika in religious places in Asian countries gives the unaware or ignorant western tourists the impression they are ‘in the house of evil’ or the religious place has strong Nazi connections. Such an attitude leads to cultural clashes and racial insults which prompts the people to take drastic steps like having such tourists thrown out of the sacred places or the temple cleansed after their departure. In Puri in India, the Jagannath temple has been banned to foreigners and cleansed several times when an American couple insulted the Swastika symbol.
Beyond the Eastern and Southern Asia, the Swastika also used in many other cultures around the world. It was found in the relics of the lost city of Atlantis under the Atlantic Ocean. Greek priestesses branded Swastikas on their arms and goddess statues dug up at ancient Troy by Dr. Schliemann have Swastikas on the vulva. Romans took the Swastika with them on their march across Europe. It was emblemed in the female genitalia in those cultures as a sign of fertility or to ensure fertility.
Today more than half the world considers Swastika as most scared and precious symbol. The swastika has meant a lot to humans over this entire planet for all of our human history. It has had that high status and respect for thousands of years till today, the 23 years (1920-1943) when Nazis abused it is too short to smear the 3000+ years of elemental purity that this symbol represents.
Sadly there are groups today which still misuse the symbol of Swastika for racial hate and Antisemitism. This provokes people who think this symbol represents evil and Nazism and go ahead to insult the cultures associated with it. Condeming and banning the Swastika is the equivalent of banning the cross or the crescent - hardly a measure to combat racism. When we seek to stamp out an evil, we should take care not to perpetuate it in some other way. Hitler’s totalitarian regime banned many symbols. Adopting his methods is scarcely a wise way of removing his legacy. In ignoring the sensitivities and culture of people in the East, a ban would be an act of Western arrogance - the very kind of attitude Hitler encouraged. It would also be an ideological victory for Nazis and Adolf Hitler who would be deemed to have succeeded in robbing a religious symbol of its sacredness. The best way would be to let the Swastika be out in the open and give a sign to Nazi sympathisers that Hitler is not the winner, he failed in the desecration of a holy symbol of peace.
More Information On Swastika
Special thanks to Dmitri and Kris for their input for this article.
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It is not a symbol of evil but the westerns want to associate it with Nazism in an excuse to spread Christian ideals against Buddhists and Hindus who they call ‘idolaters’. Trying to make a sacred symbol by using Nazism is so moronic that a 10 year old kid can see through, if he were not brainwashed like the bigots.
Well, there are two sides of this post.
One is that the Swastika has become a symbol of evil. Mainly because of the Holocaust. Hitler stole the sign from the Chinese and used it to his own advantage to gain a following and near elimate the Jewish people.
Two, the Chinese used it as a symbol of peace and prosperity. They painted it on their temples to create a sort of xen (zen) effect.
So, i believe that there is no real answer to this question. The Swastika’s views have been tossed back and forth by Westerns and Chinese Americans. As a result, both views exist and both can be correct.
The swastika is a symbol, as are letters, numbers, icons, and words. It’s only a tool created and used by men. There is no reason to argue over its meaning as we are the ones who decide on the meaning of anything we lay eyes upon.
It is good to spread knowledge of the different meanings of things so as to avoid confusion. If one with this knowledge were to happen upon a Buddhist temple with the swastika on it he would know that it is not a necessarily Nazi temple. If one without this knowledge were to see someone wearing this symbol as a charm on a necklace, they might incorrectly judge its significance and the ideas that this person might be trying to communicate.
Symbols are meant to help us communicate, but they do not replace real communication. If you see someone bearing this symbol you don’t have to be afraid, and you don’t have to judge them. If they are open to it, and if you don’t have a valid reason to fear for your physical safety, you might communicate with them.
You may find that even those who have Nazi views or a similar views are human beings too. You may have something to learn from them, and they may have something to learn from you. After all, if these “scary” men went around harming people all of the time, it is unlikely that they would survive in freedom long enough to be there to speak to you.
Let go of your fear and judgments. These human emotions are there to protect our lives and are nothing to fear or judge in and of themselves. However, except in the case of immediate physical harm, they are usually simply reminders to be aware of your situation. If you dwell too much on these types of emotions, you cloud your vision and increase the opportunities for ignorance to influence your decisions, which leads directly to the manifestation of the things we feared from the start.
-Peace
The holocaust is not a lie you moron kooks. By letting people use swastika you are insulting the memories of the dead Jews. Fuck your culture. We are Americans you follow what we have to say.
The swastika in itself is meaningless. It was originally a Jain symbol as described as above. The use of the symbol itself is irrelevant, it’s the INTENTION behind its use which matters. That is why Demitrius is wholly correct in this respect and Cyparagon is incorrect since he/she believes that the meaning behind the swastika is static and means the same thing in all contexts. However there is no surprise here as his speech has all the rantings and poorly expressed ravings of someone who does not understand the facts and of course, another American with the tragic yet extremely arrogant and unjustified American superiority complex .(AKA “The American Condition”) This entails the view that only Americans can decide the meaning and use of a symbol which most of them do not understand its original roots. In fact it would not be unfair to say that Cyparagon typifies exactly what is discussed in the “Are Americans Stupid” blog.
The Swastika is a common sight in the east.I have seen it on T-shirts cell phone covers etc.It can appear on just about anything.Apart from its association with many religons I believe it also symbolises the Sun.Note to dumb American tourists learn the culture of the countries you visit.This may help you avoid making assholes of yourselves.
Hey limey (Miloy)! Who invited you into this discussion? We all know that you are only another Nazi who can barely punctuate English sentences. Henry I know you want to carry on the fascist blackshirt legacy with that crap of a swastika. Too sad that we Americans kicked your italian ass to show who the real man is.
New note to dumb Americans. learn to recognise one flag from another.This will also help you avoid making assholes of yourselves.
Most people in the Western World do not really know about the swastika as an ancient symbol of worship. It is your duty to inform them about it because what most them know about the swastika is that it’s a Nazi Symbol.
No matter how hard you try to criticze or call names to the Christians, Moslems, Jews and the western World, that will not change the view point until you take the time to explain.
Most of us did not know it represent except that it was a symbol of nazi and you cannnot blame them for that. It was misused by Hitler and only him alone can be blame for that. If you donnot want it to be misuse then create the awerness among these group who sees as a symbol of evil
Sadly I have to agree that the symbol, however beautiful it is, has been destroyed by the National Socialist regime of Mr Hitler. I have been to many Asian countries and seen it adorn many buildings, temples etc. It also adorns sites and churches across Europe, Celtic sites in the UK and ireland and Native American sites in North America.
I could argue that it is rescuable-a hindi friend who lives in Germany advocates a day where everyone throws coloured/glittering swastikas into the streets to reclaim it.
Every symbol is merely a shape but this one has psychiatric problems - the burden it carries by being “messed-up” psychologically by Mr Hitler etc is maybe too much to bear.
The runes, triskele etc were not abused as much by the Nazis and are, thankfully, slowly regaining their”original” dignity. The christian cross has been abused by the klu klux Klan but no one is fooled by them and the cross remains true to its roots (whatever that means to christians,jews,muslims,zorostians etc ).
As Steven Heller says in his book “The Swastika - Symbol beyond redemption?” - “On the scales of meaning the horror that the swastika (in Europe) evokes far outweighs any benign attributes it may have”. It will take generations to balance this equation in much of the world (sadly)