The swastika symbol associated with the Nazis party is a common mistaken notion of many of us. We are all too familiar with the atrocities committed by Nazi Germany during World War II. Many of us reading the history or story of Second World War in Europe would remember the atrocities committed by the Nazi party of Germany on the Jews – the infamous holocaust tragic event of ethnic cleansing in Auschwitz concentration camp in German occupied Poland.
As a result, the swastika symbol was strongly associated with Nazism and the related ideologies such as fascism and white supremacy. It has notably been outlawed in Germany after the Second World War, if used as a symbol of Nazism, as well as many allied countries including Singapore.
Origin of Swastika
The swastika symbol (卐) is a cross with four arms of equal length with the ends of each arm bent at right angle in right facing form or mirrored left facing form (卍). Historically early archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the ancient civilisation and the art of the Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, Celts, Native Americans, and Persians as well as; specifically in Hinduisms, Jainism and Buddhism as a sacred symbol of good luck.
Swastika is derived from Sanskrit word Savstika, “su” meaning “good”, “asti” meaning “to be” (well-being, good fortune, and “ka” as a suffix.
Buddhism and Swastika
In Buddhism, the swastika symbol signifies auspiciousness and good fortune as well as the footprint of the Buddha and Buddha’s heart. It is also said to contain the whole mind of the Buddha and can often be found imprinted on the chest, feet or palms of Buddha images.
In many Buddhist literatures the swastika symbol is also the first of the 65 auspicious symbols on the footprint of the Buddha. The image of Lord Buddha depicts swastika on each of the toes of his feet. Buddhists have actually borrowed the swastika symbol from the Hindus.
The swastika symbols also often been used to mark the beginning of all the Buddhist texts. Buddhist swastika symbol is more often viewed as a sign of infinity, affluence, abundance and long life. It holds great importance in the Buddhist tradition and thus, this symbol can be found on almost all the Buddhist sites including the temples and monasteries.
The Buddha image emits rays in the form of various patterns and symbols radiates in various colours includes the swastika symbol in gold (yellow).
In the Buddhist tradition the swastika symbol is invariably in gold, yellow or red in colour in the left facing form (卍). The two temples that I know of are the Hoon Siang Keng Temple in our neighbourhood, located at 82 Changi Road, is one such temple that has swastika symbols in gold. The Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery (Bright Hill Temple) is the other temple with swastika symbols, is located at Bright Hill Road, in red and eaves in gold. These are two examples that I know of and, perhaps further exploration may reveal more of such temples.
Nazism and Swastika
The swastika was also a symbol for the Aryan people, a name that in Sanskrit means “noble”. The Aryans were a group of people who settled in Iran and Northern India and believed themselves to be a pure race, superior to the other surrounding cultures. When the Germans looked for a symbol, they looked for a symbol, which represented the purity, which they believed they contained. The Nazis regarded themselves as “Aryans” and tried to steal the accomplishments of these pre-historic people. Thus, the swastika symbol was adopted as a symbol of the Nazi Party of Germany. When Adolf Hitler came to power in the 1930s, he incorporated a swastika into the Nazi party flag, and was made the state flag of Germany.
The existing German flag as defined in the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany in Article 22 states the federal flag shall be in black, red and gold.
Use of Swastika Symbol in Singapore
As Nazism is synonymous with the swastika symbol it is banned in Singapore, why it is allowed in use in temples, monastery and buildings? The swastika symbol appears on images of the Lord Buddha, façade of many buildings, temples and monasteries here. We have The World Red Swastika Society (Singapore Administration Centre) at Keng Lee Road and the Red Swastika School in Bedok; and of course the many temples and monasteries and; Mangala Vihara (Buddhist Temple) is among them.
The World Red Swastika Society at Keng Lee Road.
Mangala Vihara (Buddist Temple) Main Shrine Hall
In the main shrine hall of Mangala Vihara (Buddhist Temple), a white circular board with light emitting diodes (LED), installed as backdrop to simulate emitting of rays of the Buddha image, spins with patterns and symbols and radiates in various colours includes the swastika symbol in gold (yellow).
Many of us do not realise it or some may have seen it but do not know the significant or the reason, including myself. I was once asked why the swastika symbol that is associated with Nazism is being used in a place of worship. That sets my mind reeling for an answer and hence, this article I hope would clarify the misconception.
The Different Forms of Swastika Symbol
The swastika symbolizes much more than what the intention of the Nazis planned evil deeds. The swastika symbol signified good fortune and well-being thousands of years before the Nazis even existed. To the many civilisations and cultures an important one, representing their history and beliefs. The Nazis, by adopting the swastika, annihilated the significance of the ancient symbol. Today, the swastika is to most people a symbol of evil, a symbol of demise, and a symbol of ruination. It is extremely depressing to find that although the swastika is a symbol of life, and symbol of joy, it has been made a symbol of evil, something the people of the ancient world never intended it to be.
Fortunately, there are marked differences in forms and characteristics to distinguish between the Buddhist swastika symbol and the swastika symbol of evil Nazism.
The Buddhist swastika is left facing form put flat and mainly in gold, yellow and red colour and not in black. The Nazi used the right facing form and tilted the swastika symbol at an angle of 45 degrees with the corners pointing upwards and invariably in black.
As there are clear distinctions between the two all we have to do is recognise them. What we see in Singapore, invariably are the lawful symbols and not the outlawed Nazi symbol.
A symbol is just a symbol and it is the intent that makes the difference. A scalpel in the hands of a surgeon is a tool in his profession can save a life; while in the hands of a perpetrator is unlawful possession of a weapon, in the eyes of the law, to commit a crime.
In the Dahmmapada, Yamaka Vagga (The Twin Verses), Verses 1 and 2 straighten our minds and views on good and evil intentions.
“Mano pubbaṅgamă mano, setthă manomayă
Manasă ce padutthena, bhăsati vă katoti vă
Tato naḿ dukkhamanvertĭ, cakkaḿ’va vahato padam”.
(Mind is the forerunner of (all evil) states. Mind is chief; mind-made are they. If one speaks or acts with wicked mind, because of that suffering follows one, even as the wheel follows the hoofs of the draught-ox).
“Mano pubbaňgama, mano setthă manomayă
Manasă ce pasannena, bhăsti vă karoti vă
Tato naḿ sukkamanveti, chăyă’va anapăynĭ”.
(Mind is the forerunner of (all good) states. Mind is chief, mind-made are they. If one speaks or acts with pure mind, because of that, happiness follows one, even as one’s shadow that never leaves).
I can proudly proclaim the swastika symbols in red, yellow or gold used in our establishments, rightly belonged to the Buddhist tradition are lawful, wholesome and full of good will.
Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!
This revised article the original of which was first published on October 9th 2011 in the now dormant eDhamma.net, has been cited in Longwood Blog and listed in the Chinese Buddhist Encyclopaedia.
Contributor: Chin Kee Thou
Date: February 18th 2017
Text, photos and video clip by contributor who takes responsibility for any inadvertence, factual or otherwise.
.
Chin Kee Thou
Buddhism and Daily Living 
Hi, thank you for the information about the meaning of the word”swastika”. I noticed it when I was young but do not know the meaning of the word.This article has been very useful to my understanding of Buddhism. A simple symbol has such a profound meaning. Thank you again for the articles. Look forward to any further interesting and yet profound meaning article.
LikeLike
Thank you for taking interest in the writing. Do read the other writings on the blog and you will discover the many facets of Buddhism.
LikeLike
Dear Ann Piskorz,
Thank you for taking interest in my post and pointing out the error.
It was an inadvertence and I apologized for your inconvenience.
I have corrected it to reflect as “Poland”.
May alI be well and happy.
With Metta
KT Chin
.
LikeLike
but in the photo of the light you give the swastika goes to the right; truth is Buddhists and Hindus use swastikas facing both directions both.
LikeLike
As long as the symbol represents goodness it does not matter which direction it faces. The Nazi symbol tilts at the angle of 45 degrees and invariably in black.
LikeLike
You can clearly see the swastika on Buddha’s chest is also black. Tilting the swastika at 45 degrees angle doesn’t change the symbol. There are other swastika around the world that are also tilted. Still the same symbol. A symbol is a simply a symbol, it depends on the humans who created it what they see in it.
LikeLike
The swastika IS NOT a symbol of goodness, but, is the ANCIENT NAME of GOD in HEBREW.
Why? Because it applies to the timeline of The Flood of Noah’s day in 2370 BCE, and the TOWER OF BABEL along with the confusion of tongues in the year 2270 BCE 2269 BCE, the tower was being built in opposition to GODS COMMNANDEMNTS IN GENESIS 9:1.
IF INTERESTED SEE, …….HISTORY OF THE Indian wars full documentary 3 hours long
on you tube and read my comment ELENA E. SCROLL TO FIND IT .
LikeLike
Hi there random stranger on the internet. I believe history itself is a parallel event. For what you describe, there is also different source of explanation. Yes, it is our right to choose which one to believe, but at the same time please respect others’ as they also exist. As swastika itself derives both from eurasian and non eurasian continent that can also be traced back around 2000-3000 bce.
LikeLike
The symbol originates in Ukraine circa 16,000 BCE and the Balkans thereafter. Indo-Europeans brought the symbol to Asia in the controversial “Aryan Invasion Theory” which is very well-corroborated with evidence from archaeology, DNA studies of ancient remains, linguistics, etymology and ancient texts from the Zend Avesta to the Rig Veda offer some hints pointing to the origins of the Arya. These easy to verify facts are of course controversial and are bound to tick many people off.
Germany on the other hand is in Europe, Singapore is in southeast Asia. Banning a symbol because of “muh Nazism” makes no sense in a place like Singapore situated very faraway from Europe. National Socialism on the other hand is often lied about and the facts often do not matchup with the lies.
Funny how when people say they want to protect the environment and different species of animals, they never apply it to human beings. Only Jews are deemed “special” while everyone else is considered more or less the same with zero differences between.
Somehow wanting to preserve your ethnic or racial bloodline is deemed the most abominable evil; “That’s what Hitler Did! You don’t want to be a Nazi, do you?” Especially if you’re white and expected to grovel for all the wrongdoings of Europeans, while everyone else gets to feel proud despite their ancestors wrongdoings. Sometimes these wrongdoings are exaggerated, or completely invented from thin air. Proper context is all too often excluded.
LikeLike
https://sacred-texts.com/zor/sbe04/sbe0407.htm
3 (5). The first of the good lands and countries
p. 5
which I, Ahura Mazda, created, was the Airyana Vaêgô 1, by the good river Dâitya 2.
Thereupon came Angra Mainyu, who is all death, and he counter-created by his witchcraft the serpent in the river 3 and winter, a work of the Daêvas 4.
4 (9). There are ten winter months there, two summer months 5; and those are cold for the waters 6, cold for the earth, cold for the trees 7. Winter falls there, with the worst of its plagues.
LikeLike