Swastika

The second most revered symbol in the Hindu culture after that of the “OM” is Swastika. These days the symbol Swastika is known throughout the world and that is not just for being the religious symbol of the Hindu culture but also as the Nazi emblem. Hitler made the use of Swastika on to the flag of the National Socialist Council. Also, today, Swastika continues to be revered as the significant Hindu religious symbol. Like that of the OM symbol, the origin associated with the origin of Swastika has also been faded and there are only pieces of clues that are left.

Swastika is a symbol unlike that of OM whose representation is in the form of a letter. This one is a decorative character and it must have come from the pictorial script.

The various ways in which the Swatika is depicted

The word Swastika is believed to have been derived from amalgamation of two words called Su and Asati. Whereas Su stands for Good, Asati stands for exist. Sanskrit grammar has this amalgamation for the word Swastika. According to this segregation the meaning of word Swastika comes out to be ‘Let good prevail’.

There are a number of forms of signs that are used as a representation of Swastika. The standard representation too has two representations, in which the one which is also called as “the symbol of right hand path” and the other is called the “symbol for left hand path”. These two representations of Swastika are believed to be the symbol for male and female. Apart from these two forms of Swastika there also exists another symbol which is the amalgamation of these two. Swastika is believed to be a symbol which has been of great use in various significant roles in the real lives of people. Some of the scholars say that these symbols originated in the ancient times as a blueprint of forts were built in the shape grid which was probably in the form of Swastika. And that was built for the purpose of defence. This type of fort construction could be helpful in helping people from the enemies from storming from all four sides of the building.

Swastika as blueprint for a fort

Conventionally, the forts were built in such a way that the fall of gate from one side by the enemy side could lead to enabling them to making easy entrance and capturing the entire area. While if the building grid is built in the shape of Swastika, even after the fall of one of the gates from any side can still keep the other three fourth of the area in the safe zone.

The explanation about the origin of Swastika as a blueprint of a fort can also be put forward etymologically. In the language of Sanskrit, while Vasa stands for inhabit, Vastu means habitation and Su stands for God. Also, it has been guessed that the word Swastika might be an amalgamated form of Su and Vastu which is pronounced as Swastu and that is pronounced as Swastu which means a good habitation. Also, the very near word to Swastu called Sawsta means as peaceful and calm. And, therefore the basic thought behind Swastika could be its representation as a defensive structure.