Religious Symbols Explained, Including the Swastika

[krsna]

 

Religious Symbols Explained, Including the Swastika

http://www.roanoke.com/roatimes/news/story166352.html

 

KANSAS CITY, KANSAS, May 1, 2004: Saturday, May 01, 2004: This story in

the Kansas City Star begins, "Show an empty cross to most Christians at

Easter and their minds will go to the crucifixion and resurrection of

Jesus Christ. It's a powerful symbol. But some American Indians may see

a symbol similar to a cross and think of the spiritual meaning of the

four directions. To Hindus, a cross shaped in the form of a swastika

means peace. In pre-Christian Chinese tradition, a cross represented

perfection. Because most religious symbols are often common objects,

scholars say, they are often commonly shared across those traditions.

But from faith to faith, the meaning of the symbols can be similar or

quite different. Almost every religion has a symbol that resembles a

cross, and it's a perfect example of one symbol with multiple and even

contradictory meanings."

 

It goes on, "The swastika cross has been a symbol of peace used by

Hindus for thousands of years during prayer and worship services, said

Anand Bhattacharyya, a Hindu. But because it was used as a Nazi symbol,

a lot of visitors to the Hindu temple are curious about its presence

there, Bhattacharyya said. They have to explain that the word

'swastika' comes from the Sanskrit word for peace. This article goes on

to discuss many aspects of religious symbols."

[krsna]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4183467.stm

[Guest guest]

Hare Krishna,

 

I think the word can be split as "Su + Asti + Ka"

 

Su = GOOD(in a Transcendental way)

Asti = To Be

Ka = This siffix indicates similarity

 

So the word "Svati" actually refers to Visnu ALONE. It is in Visnu SahasranAmA. It means one is AUSPICIOUS and full of Bliss.

 

That symbol which confers this auspiciousness upon devotees is "Svastika".

[krsna]

UK Hindus Start Campaign to Prevent Europe-Wide Ban on Swastika

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4188141.stm

 

LONDON, ENGLAND, January 20, 2004:

 

Hindus in the UK are starting a

campaign to reclaim the swastika from its Nazi associations. German

MEPs called for a Europe-wide ban of the symbol after Prince Harry wore

it on a fancy dress costume. But Hindu Forum spokesman Ramesh Kallidai

said the swastika had been a Hindu good luck charm for centuries. The

group will stage public awareness workshops across the UK and lobby

politicians in an attempt to educate the public and prevent a ban, he

said.

 

"It's the second most sacred symbol in the Hindu tradition which

has been used for 5,000 years to ward off evil," Mr. Kallidai said. The

forum would make a particular effort to get the message across to

Jewish groups, he added. "After all it is the Jewish anguish that needs

to be considered. They were the community that was most affected by the

misuse of the swastika so naturally they would have concerns.

 

"Hindus

use the swastika merely as a religious sacrament, to express their

devotion to God, surely nobody can have any objections to that," he

said.

 

Displaying the swastika is illegal in Germany. However, Mr. Kallidai

said a similar ban in the UK would have an adverse affect on Hindus who

regarded a swastika in much the same way as a Christian viewed a cross.

Buddhists also view the swastika as a good luck charm. "You find it in

houses, temples and in portraits of Hindu gods. A swastika is even

painted on the head of a baby who's just had his first hair-cutting

sacrament," he said. The Hindu swastika faces to the right, unlike the

one adopted by the Nazis which faces to the left.

 

( note: This is a

commonly repeated but incorrect statement. Hindus use both the left-

and right-handed swastikas, and examples can be found of both together

on Indus Valley seals.)

It is also traditionally red, a color regarded

as auspicious by Hindus. "Just because at a particular moment in

history one section of society used it, or a mirror image, to unleash

xenophobic ideology does not mean Hindus should be punished," Mr.

Kallidai said. "It's like saying the Ku Klux Klan burn crosses so

therefore let's ban the use of crosses worldwide."

 

The Hindu Forum's campaign has gained backing from other groups.

Maganbhai Patel of Leicester's Hindu Association said the general

public's confusion needed to be addressed. "Hindus have been using the

swastika for centuries, whereas it was only adopted by Hitler

comparatively recently, in the 1920s and 1930s. "We use it for marriage

ceremonies and also for other religious ceremonies and events," Mr.

Patel said. And Kapil Dudakia, of Milton Keynes Hindu Association, said

the swastika was viewed "positively" by billions of people around the

world including followers of the Buddhist and Jain faiths. "When I got

married, literally as soon as you entered the hall where the marriage

took place you saw swastikas everywhere. They were also on the

invitation cards," he said. "It's only in certain quarters of the

Western world where you've got these very negative connotations. "What

we've got to do is separate the evil of Hitler and his ideology from

the symbol of the swastika which actually means something quite

different," Mr. Dudakia said.

[krsna]

Member of European . Says Europe Needs History Lesson On

the Swastika

robertevansmep@btclick.com

 

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, February 2, 2005: The following news released

was received from the office of Robert Evans ("source"), Labour Member

of the European . for London:

 

Labour Member of the European ., Robert Evans has called for a

European campaign on the real history of the swastika to highlight its

importance to Europe's Hindus. "The swastika was not invented by

Hitler" said Robert Evans. "In fact, it has been used for over 3,000

years by many cultures, in particular the Hindu, Jain and Buddhist

communities to represent life, sun, power, peace, strength and good

luck.Whilst of course I understand why some MEPs are suggesting the

swastika should be banned, in reality this would have the effect of

discriminating against Europe's one million plus Hindus and deprive

them of their sacred symbol." In a European . Written

Declaration, co-tabled by West Midlands MEP Neena Gill, they refer to

the fact that the word "swastika" comes from the old Indian or Sanskrit

word svastika (to be good) and that until the twentieth century it was

not associated with anything other than positive messages. "To Hindus,

it's the second most sacred symbol in their tradition and has been used

for several thousand years to ward off evil. Unlike the Nazi swastika

which faced left, the Hindu swastika faces to the right and by

tradition it is red, a color regarded as auspicious by Hindus." states

Robert Evans. (HPI adds: This is, in part, a common piece of

misinformation. Hindus use both the right and left swastikas, and there

are examples even on Indus Valley seals.)

 

"The swastika was adopted by Adolf Hitler's Nazis in 1920. It then

became a symbol of all that is evil and was associated with the

greatest crimes in the history of mankind." "I completely condemn its

use for xenophobic, racial hatred or right wing purposes. However, what

is needed now is tolerance and understanding. The swastika in a

different form is very important to millions of Hindus across Europe

and the rest of the world." added Robert Evans. "Of course this issue

has to be handled sensitively and I am very conscious of the anguish

that the use of the swastika causes to the Jewish Community, but for

Hindus the swastika is a religious sacrament, to express their devotion

to God. In London I have seen it in many houses and in Hindu temples."

"It must be possible to separate the evil of Hitler and his ideology

from the Hindu symbol which actually means almost the opposite."

concluded Mr Evans.

[Guest guest]

The only difference is who is the speaker from the two articles. Mr. Kallidai in one, and Mr. Evans in the other.