Haridham Posted October 23, 2003 Report Share Posted October 23, 2003 Is the Swastika a symbol for peace for vedic culture? I am just curious. I know that the Nazi sign doesnt have the four dots as the vedic symbol does. Can anyone clarify Hare Krsna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Priitaa Posted October 23, 2003 Report Share Posted October 23, 2003 Technically its Vedic, but since Hitler liked the arayan concepts presented in Vedic literature and because he twisted everything he came near, he misused it. Now it is no longer understood in that way AT ALL. Unfortunately, due to him, we ca'nt use it. It triggers awful thoughts for many. Just tell people to chant Hare Krishna. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kulapavana Posted October 23, 2003 Report Share Posted October 23, 2003 nazis literally twisted swastik yantra (reversed the direction of spin) which is very ancient and used by buddhism as well. it is a symbol of auspiciousness and prosperity (placed often on Sri Yantra plates), not peace in the "hippie" sense. this symbol appears with and without dots in vedic culture. It is not much used outside India (even by the Aryan culture enthusiasts like myself) due to obvious negative associations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanamali Posted October 23, 2003 Report Share Posted October 23, 2003 I heard of a group of neo-nazis in the midwest who broke into a Sikh gurudwara and spraypainted swastiks on the walls. I bet when the people came in the next morning were wondering why these people felt the need to break in during the night when they obviously liked them so much. (Kind of like breaking into a Catholic church and spraypainting crosses) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Priitaa Posted October 24, 2003 Report Share Posted October 24, 2003 LOL Yes, and if they had only phoned ahead and made an appointment, they would have let them come do it for free, and then they could have done a much more professional job too. /images/graemlins/smile.gif Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haridham Posted October 24, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2003 So why then hindus call it the symbol of peace? Ofcourse they say "Hinduism" is about unity but then there is a cast system. Do they say these things because they have no clue and it just sounds nice to everyone else????????? I hope this doesnt get heated. lol Hare Krsna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Priitaa Posted October 24, 2003 Report Share Posted October 24, 2003 Haridhama, What exactly is your question? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haridham Posted October 24, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2003 Hare Krsna My question is..... what exactly does the symbol mean? and also why the "hindu's" give watered down and wishywashy answers about everything. Also i would like to thank you for sending me the invitation, I registered and will go on from time to time. I have to figure out how to use it Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Priitaa Posted October 24, 2003 Report Share Posted October 24, 2003 Haribol, Well, since we did not get into it much in ISKCON (because of its misunderstood but more popular meaning due to Hitler) I don't quite know its exact meaning. Just what Kulapavana said "auspiciousness and prosperity." Not sure what specifics you are referring to with the washy washy concerns. Tho in general, that stuff bothers me too. ha Yes, I saw you joined. Thanks. Its not a real active group, but not inactive either. All posts take a while to go thru, but not to worry, they go thru. :-) What I like most about it, is that anyone can do devotional service from home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kulapavana Posted October 24, 2003 Report Share Posted October 24, 2003 I think Hindus call swastik the symbol of peace to contrast that with current western ideas associated with this symbol. Peace in the sense of "absence of war" was never high on list of priorities in the Vedas. However, wars were fought honorably and did not involve general population. The peace Vedas are focusing on is "shanti" or inner peace, which comes from spiritual understanding. Om shanti, shanti, shanti! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanamali Posted October 24, 2003 Report Share Posted October 24, 2003 sarvesham SWASTIR bhavatu sarvesham shaantir bhavatu sarvesham poornam bhavatu sarvesham mangalam bhavatu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haridham Posted October 24, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2003 Hare Krsna Vanamali ji. That was an interesting picture. I was wondering what the mantra meant? Hare Krsna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haridham Posted October 24, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2003 Vanamali, thats such a nice name. I know this young devotee named vanamali. Such a beautiful name that is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haridham Posted October 24, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2003 The Wishywashy refers to everything they do. /images/graemlins/smile.gif I am glad you know what I mean. I mean I am from an Indian(gujurati, "hindu") background and I live with these things everyday and GOD(Krsna) its so annoying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanamali Posted October 24, 2003 Report Share Posted October 24, 2003 AUM Sarveshaam Swastir Bhavatu Sarvesham Shantir Bhavatu; Sarvesham purnam Bhavatu; Sarvesham Mangalam Bhavatu. AUM Shantih, Shantih, Shantih more or less means... May all be auspicious; May all attain peace; Let there be fullness and contentment all over; May all be blessed. AUM peace, peace, peace. Happy Deepawali to you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haridham Posted October 24, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2003 Thank you for telling me what that meant. Happy Diwali to you too, its my birthday on Diwali. Jai Sri Ram. I am also in a play and my role is Hanuman. The story of Rama and Sita is quite where I am right now. Although Ram and Sita is Divine and where mine is not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanamali Posted October 24, 2003 Report Share Posted October 24, 2003 Namaste, I love Hanumanji, the greatest bhakta You better be careful playing him... you know he is Chiranjeevi(immortal), and he will actually physically be in the room while you are acting. No pressure, though. He has no pride to hurt! Good luck. Yatra yatra Raghunaatha kirtanam tatra tatra krita mastakanjalim bhaashpa-vaari paripoorna lochanam marutim namada rakshasa-antakam (In every nook and corner where Lord Raghunath is sung about, he (Hanumanji) is there, with tears flooding from his eyes. Salutations to my Lord Maruthi, He who saw the end of all evil ones!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kulapavana Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 some additional info on this subject from various internet sources: "The swastika is an equilateral cross with arms bent at right angles, all in the same direction, usually the right, or clockwise. The swastika is a symbol of prosperity and good fortune and is widely dispersed in both the ancient and modern world. It originally represented the revolving sun, fire, or life. The word swastika is derived from the Sanskrit swastika which means, "conducive to well- being". The swastika was widely utilized in ancient Mesopotamian coinage as well as appearing in early Christian and Byzantium art, where it was known as the gammadion cross. The swastika also appeared in South and Central America, widely used in Mayan art during that time period. In North America, the swastika was a symbol used by the Navajos. The swastika still continues today to be an extensively used sign in Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism. In Buddhism, a swastika represents resignation. In Jainism, it delineates their seventh saint, and the four arms are also used to remind the worshiper of the four possible places of rebirth; the animal or plant world, in Hell, on Earth, or in the spirit world. To Hindus, the swastika with the arms bent to the left is called the sathio or sauvastika, which symbolizes night, magic, purity, and the destructive goddess Kali. In both Hinduism and Jainism, the swastika or sathio is used to mark the opening pages or their account books, thresholds, doors, and offerings. The swastika was a symbol for the Aryan people, a name which, in Sanskrit means "noble". Using over 400 rare and unique photos and illustrations, visionary Pop artist ManWoman shows you the playful ways the Swastika was used before World War Two especially in America where it was the homegrown lucky sign of Native people. An eye-opening investigation into the hidden sacred history of the swastika and the enormous heritage we have lost because of swastikaphobia. Gentle Swastika investigates swastika rituals of the pagan world and swastika history. It shows you swastikas in ancient synagogues and Christian catacombs. It shows you how the swastika transforms from the ancient symbol of the Goddess and the tribal migrations of native Indians, into Victorian good luck sign, the occult magical symbol, and the peaceful mystical blessing of Hindus and Buddhists. It shows you contemporary uses of the swastika as the emblem of punk rock defiance and youth culture. Gentle Swastika illustrates many variations of swastika; the meander, the triskelion, the tetraskelion, the fylfot, the gammadion, and the hakenkreuz. •Part 1 Origin of the Swastika Mesopotamia and India. Islamic use. Atlantis? Genital shields of aboriginal Brazilian women. Mayans, Aztecs. Greek priestesses branded Swastikas on their arms. Goddess figures dug up at ancient Troy have Swastikas on the vulva. Romans took the Swastika across Europe. Egyptians? •Part 2 Use and Misuse of a Symbol Types of Swastikas. The Swavastika or backwards Swastika. Various names for the Swastika. Amulets, talismans and hex signs. Pre-Nazi German use. Ancient swords. My conversation with Helga, a Hitler Youth. Hitler's mightiest magical weapon. How Hitler came to choose it for his flag. Hebrew religious sign found on ancient synagogues. Essene Swastikas. The Cabala. Jewish usage. •Part 3 In Western Cultures Swastika, Ontario, Canada. The town's struggle to keep its name after the war. Three Canadian hockey teams called the Swastikas. Coca Cola's lucky Swastika watchfob 1925. Jackie Kennedy's Indian dress. Swastika, New York, Swastika, New Mexico. Boy Scouts Swastika badge. Detroit car with Swastika hood ornament. Swastika surfboards from Los Angeles. Swastika shoulder patch of 45th Infantry division US Army. What every girl wants--her own Swastika. The Girls' Club of Ladies Home Journal. Emblem of the Dawn Patrol, American volunteer pilots in WW1. Quilt patterns, architecture. The Wild West--Swastika saddles, Swastika branding irons. Chief Dan George praised my efforts to cleanse the Swastika. What it means to native Indians, First Nations people. Dozens of examples--Hopi, Navaho, Cree, Haida, Sioux nations. In 1940 native Indians in Arizona, New Mexico in a solemn ceremony gave up their sacred symbol. British uses of the Swastika including Rudyard Kipling and Celtic tattoo designs. Swastika Laundry in Dublin, Ireland. The Nordic use--the Hammer of Thor. Viking swords. Ancient Runes. Finnish Air Force's blue Swastika. Carlsberg beer trademark. Iceland Steamship logo. When the last czar of Russia was imprisoned with his family in 1917, the Romanoff girls embroidered lucky swastikas on fabric before their deaths by the Bolsheviks. •Part 4 In Eastern Cultures Tattooed on women in Africa to ensure fertility. Gold weights from West Africa. China and Japan. Samurai armor and Ninja throwing stars. Tattooed on monks in Tibet. The Dalai Lama's throne. •Part 5 As a Mystical Symbol Hindu uses. Sacred Fire. Ganesha. Holy spots are marked with Swastika. Sacred Heart of Buddha. Buddha's footprints. The Jains, who are non-violent, make the sign of the Swastika. Christian symbol from the catacombs. Gnostic grafitti. Occult Swastikas--Theosophists, Rosicrucians, Masons, Golden Dawn, Transcendental Meditation, Pythagorus, Madame Blavatsky, Krishnamurti, Rudolf Steiner, William Butler Yeats. Aliester Crowley claimed Hitler stole the Swastika from him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yasodanandana Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 thanks... very good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2003 Report Share Posted December 13, 2003 I'm sorry, but I had stumbled across this pathetic forum and seeing you guys arguing about the swastic. I read some points which were obviously taken from books written by people who know very little of the Hindu culture and are trying to prove something to the world which amazingly takes anything that is thrown at them. Anyways, I have lived in India for many years and have been part of that culture all my life. For those who do not know or are uncertain the real meaning of the symbol is PURITY. Now, some of you did mention the Arian race, but forgot to mention how the swastika is connected to them. The Arians were considered by this Hitler DUDE to be "pure" (not sure how you define a race to be pure). So he used the swastik to represent his nation as a nation of purity. If this is still unclear for you guys than go read some books that actually are written from people who have experienced the culture and what not. Anyways, I'm out and won't be coming back so don't bother writting an angry message because I won't be here to read it. P.S. Swastik was created by Hindus not the Nazis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kulapavana Posted December 15, 2003 Report Share Posted December 15, 2003 if you write a critical and inflamatory post, ignoring the information already posted and not SIGN it, you are probably both ignorant and cowardly. these two qualities are despised by all Aryans Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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