For the town in Ontario, see Swastika, Ontario.

The swastika (from Sanskrit स्वास्तिक ) is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles in either left-facing () or right-facing () direction. The swastika is a holy symbol in Hinduism and Jainism. In the West, it is most widely known and used as a symbol of Nazism. It is traditionally oriented so that a main line is horizontal, though it is occasionally rotated at forty-five degrees. The Hindu version is often decorated with a dot in each quadrant.

Overview

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The motif seems to have first been used in Neolithic Eurasia. The swastika is used in religious and civil ceremonies in India. Most Indian temples, entrance of houses, weddings, festivals and celebrations are decorated with swastikas. The symbol was introduced to Southeast Asia by Hindu kings and remains an integral part of Balinese Hinduism to this day, and it is a common sight in Indonesia. The symbol has an ancient history in Europe, appearing on artifacts from pre-Christian European cultures. It was also adopted independently by several Native American cultures. In the Western world, the symbol experienced a resurgence following the archaeological work in the late nineteenth century of Heinrich Schliemann, who discovered the symbol in the site of ancient Troy and associated it with the ancient migrations of Proto-Indo-Europeans ("Aryan" people). He connected it with similar shapes found on ancient pots in Germany, and theorised that the swastika was a "significant religious symbol of our remote ancestors," linking ancient German, Greek and Vedic culture.Schliemann, H, Troy and its remains, London: Murray, 1875, pp. 102, 119-20 Sarah Boxer. "One of the world's great symbols strives for a comeback". The New York Times, July 29, 2000. By the early 20th century it was widely used worldwide and was regarded as a symbol of good luck and auspiciousness.

The work of Schliemann soon became intertwined with the völkisch movements, for which the swastika was a symbol of "Aryan" identity, a concept that came to be equated by theorists like Alfred Rosenberg with a Nordic master race originating in northern Europe. Since its adoption by the Nazi Party of Adolf Hitler, the swastika has been associated with fascism, racism (white supremacy), World War II, and the Holocaust in much of the West. The swastika remains a core symbol of Neo-Nazi groups, and is also regularly used by activist groups to signify the supposed Nazi-like behaviour of organizations and individuals they oppose.

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Who does that? Read a history book. RT@mollydoestravel: Im a bit dumbfounded right now by the asain guy with a swastika on his car...really?
mjedwards (mjedwards) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:45:46 -0000
Who does that? Read a history book. RT@mollydoestravel: Im a bit dumbfounded right now by the asain guy with a swastika on his car...really?
Im a bit dumbfounded right now by the asain guy with a swastika on his car...really?
mollydoestravel (Molly C) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:29:13 -0000
Im a bit dumbfounded right now by the asain guy with a swastika on his car...really?
new tattoo: I want a swastika and an iron cross together on my lower back but I don't know how to convince .. http://bit.ly/178ubx
gunnermac (Gunner MacPherson) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:18:32 -0000
new tattoo: I want a swastika and an iron cross together on my lower back but I don't know how to convince .. http://bit.ly/178ubx
Unbelievable. Mein Kampf complete with swastika icon & Hitler credit approved for iPhone app store. http://tinyurl.com/yjrl4vd
daveeeeeed (David Grunwald) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:06:38 -0000
Unbelievable. Mein Kampf complete with swastika icon & Hitler credit approved for iPhone app store. http://tinyurl.com/yjrl4vd
bassic nazzi 101, our bus driver just showed us the RIGHT way to draw a swastika
Champion_Dan (Daniel Casados) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:55:26 -0000
bassic nazzi 101, our bus driver just showed us the RIGHT way to draw a swastika
That was a bad picture of Taylor Swift and her friend with the Swastika Shirt on,Taylor Swift what a bitch
AScorpioPassion (Unbreakable ) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:53:13 -0000
That was a bad picture of Taylor Swift and her friend with the Swastika Shirt on,Taylor Swift what a bitch

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