Symbolism of the Swastika
The swastika has been seen as a symbol for good luck by people in both ancient and modern times. A closer look at the etymology of this Sanskrit word, however, reveals a deeper meaning. When the Sanskrit scholar and spiritual teacher, P.R. Sarkar visited Germany in 1979 he gave the following interpretation of the word:
- su - means "good"
- asti - means "to be, to exist"
- ik - means "what is in existence, and will continue to exist"
- a - denotes feminine gender
So "Swastika" means a 'good existence' that is not to be destroyed and that remains in a good condition. He went on to say that its deeper meaning is permanent victory. In the context of the cultural origins of the swastika, this means the victory of dharma - the fundamental spiritual nature of humanity.
Sarkar explained that the swastika has both a positive and a negative expression:
He then went on to warn those present not to use the negative swastika, explaining that it brings total annihilation, while the positive swastika brings total victory.
Dharmafly web applications