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Red SwastikaSwastik Sign
Swastik
Swastika symbol is an ancient symbol that holds lot of importance for Hindus. Read about the origin & history of Swastik cross.

History of Swastik

Swastika symbol is popular worldwide; however, it holds much more importance in India. The term has been derived from the Sanskrit word "Svastika", which denotes affluence, happiness, comfort, safety and good luck. It is considered to be a charm for bringing good fortune and prosperity. Swastik cross consists of four equal arms with each arm bending at the right angle. Well, people in India are indeed aware of the Swastika symbol and its significance, but very few know about its origin & history. To know about the history of Swastika symbol, read on.

Indo Aryans, Greeks, Hittites and Celts made an extensive use of the Swastika cross in the historic times. Swastika has been a sacred symbol of Hindus since ages. There are millions of people who support as well as advocate the use of Swastik; thereby popularizing it in such a manner that it seems to have its relevance not just in the past but also in the present society. Recent discoveries are evocative of the fact that Swastika symbol made its presence felt even in the Indus Valley Civilization.

Swastika is sometimes used in the form of a geometrical motif and sometimes as a religious symbol. Almost all the cultures have adopted Swastika then be it Asian, African, European or Native American. The reason for using Swastika might differ from one culture to another, but the fact is that Swastika has come in the forefront. The findings of archaeological excavations suggest that the origin of Swastika can be traced back to the Neolithic age. The Swastik sign was prevalent on numerous ruins of the Khuzestan province of Iran. It is also found on the "Vinca script" of the 5th millennium BC of Neolithic Europe.

In the early Bronze Age, Swastik cross found its way in the pottery designing. Its traces have also been found in the Iron Age. In the ancient civilizations, Swastika did not really have a religious significance, but it was used as a popular motif that was often used in designing several articles of frequent use. In Zoroastrian Persia, Swastika symbol represented the revolving sun, fire, perpetuity and leisure. No mention has been made about Swastika in the Vedas. Its religious significance was felt in India during the period of Mauryan and Gupta Empire. Thus, Swastika has been in use since quite a long period.

Swastika symbol is today used in most of the Dharmic religions. It is also found in a number of Devanagari fonts. It is also used in the modern Unicode. Most of the Hindu religious texts have the Swastika symbol imprinted on them. It is increasingly finding its way in the designing of wedding cards and decorations. In the year 1920, it became popular as a Nazi symbol and thus became a very controversial motif. In the Western countries, people are familiar with Swastik more as the symbol of Nazis, rather than a religious symbol of Hindus.


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