Turquoise Swastika

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Taken in Jamalpur, Bihar (See more photos or videos here)

25°19' 10" N, 86°29' 24" E

A swastika symbol on a house in Jamalpur, Bihar, India. The swastika is an ancient symbol representing permanent spiritual victory.

I have seen so many swastikas here in India - on temples, houses, shops, rickshaws and in random, unexpected places - that they just seem very commonplace to me now. This is very far from the shocking reaction that the symbol often receives in the West, due to the history of its abuse there. That negative perception is absolutely absent from people's minds here. The swastika here represents goodness, righteousness, truth, purpose and divinity.

• Positive Swastikas set
• Positive Swastikas group
• Reclaim the Swastika website

Journey to the East set

Comments

	Ewa's Oceans says: I understand your intentions and the other meaning of this symbol. Usually, if I don't like something, I just leave the site and go to the other places in Flicr. But today I uploaded my photo here, and I saw yours (this one) just next to mine. And I couldn't stand this, because - as you said - here it has just other meaning. In Poland it's symbol of death, pain, incredible cruelty, and such horrible things that only man to man could do. Each and every family here have lost one or more members of family, and people suffered so much. I was born a quite long time after WWII, and still it's horrible to me to see this symbol. You know, I have German friends, and it wasn't a problem to me. But I know, there are still people who would like to have swastika as a their symbol (with it's meaning as it used to be in Europe before) again, and I worry about it. Sorry, I just can't change it. So I deleted my photo, and I will upload it later . It's nothing personal, believe me, and it was good to learn something new here too. But however it's in wonderful, my favourite colour, this photo hurts. Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )
	Gale Franey says: The word swastika is Sanskrit and means "the self-manifested mark." In other words, it is a sign of self-realization. It is related to the wheel or dharmachakra, but the fact that it is not wholly enclosed by a rim indicates a potential for openness and movement. The word is derived from su (well), asti (is) and ka (noun ending,) -- "it is well." The right-turning wheel is male and the opposite is female, associated with Hindu goddess Kali. The swastika is an ancient and noble symbol of cosmic order and stability. It is usually drawn pointing in a clockwise direction, so it is considered a solar symbol. It is a protective device used as a blessing or "auspicious sign," and is one of the many symbols used in India as a Hindu forehead mark or tilaka. It is one of the marks that a Buddha can have on the sole of the foot when he or she is born. The swastika is also associated with Ganesha, adeity who overcomes obstacles and opens the way to good fortune. It is most unfortunate that Hitler, in his warped and distorted mind, took this symbol of goodness and turned it into one of the most hated symbols known to mankind. But please do not blame the swastika, it is just another victim of Hitler's war. If people continue to hate it, then they are allowing Hitler's warped thinking to win a victory. It is time for the symbol to return to its ancient roots, its original meaning, as a symbol of the continuum of life and goodness. Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )
	premasagar says: Thank you both for taking the time to write such considered responses. @Ewa's Oceans, I appreciate and totally understand your reaction to this symbol. You are totally justified in feeling that way. My family also lost members in the Holocaust. As you say, Ewa, there are still those who wish to abuse the swastika. But the swastika does not rightfully belong to people of hate. It has been stolen. I feel it is only right and proper to educate about its true meaning, to prevent this symbol from being misused any longer and to allow its proper, positive use to be re-established. This will take time. It is such a sensitive issue. Let everybody be heard and let no one have their true feelings stifled. There are some interesting reader comments at www.reclaimtheswastika.com/your-say/, which you may be interested in. Best wishes, Premasagar. Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )
	Gale Franey says: Great website & thanks for the information & for making an effort to return the symbol to its original positive meaning. Although I live far away in Canada, my grandfather, who was living in Ukraine during the war, was beaten for giving shelter to Polish people. He was hiding them in his barn when German soldiers came looking for them. Consequently he was so severely beaten for hiding them that his chest was permanently shattered. When I was a little girl and he had immigrated to Canada, I could clearly see his lop-sided ribs, still hideously & permanently damaged. People everywhere were touched in some way by the War. Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )
	Kartoffelita says: I'm from Germany and I have seen two or three Swastikas here at flickr. Everytime I was shocked to see this symbol which to me and every other German is a sign for Hitler and everything connected with him. For me it is a sign for horror, fear and so many horrible things that happened during World War 2! I just learned that it is a sign from Buddhism and has a completley different meaning in India and ohter cultures where Buddhism is practised. But I still get shocked everytime I see a new picture until I realise what it is! Posted 27 months ago. ( permalink )
	premasagar says: @Kartoffelita - Yes, it is still pretty heart-wrenching for Germans and Jews alike, and for many who lived through the War and the Holocaust. The symbol actually predates Buddhism by several thousand years. It has been and is still used by very many cultures around the world. Posted 27 months ago. ( permalink )
	Ewa's Oceans says: Oh, I missed somehow previous comments ?? Sorry :-) It's great to learn something new :-) I think that your idea is great, and I want to thank you very much, Premasagar :-D It's wonderful to know, that it has great meaning as well, and it really helps :-) I don't blame "swastika", Gale, because there are no "bad" or "good" signs, as there are no bad or good words ;-) Only the meaning that people give to them ... However, as Kartoffelita said, it's so deep somewhere inside our minds ... I mean here, in this part of Europe. Just in the middle of unbelivable horror, that we can't forget it even in following generations. It's not about any hate at all, or thinking in ... let's say: "bad way". I think that positive thinking is the best and the only right way to choose. But at the same moment we have to remember, if we don't want to repeating the same horrible things from the past. So we can't just forget it. Because, if we want or not, the sign has double meaning. As I remember well, Gale, you were in India, so the first meaning is closer to your heart. I do understand your point of view, and I even would think as you, but ... Not everyone think in this way as we do. There are still people, that would love to see Hitler's swastika come back along with rules from those times. And now ... please, come here, Gale, and I will show you, and anyone who is interested in - Oświęcim (known as Auschwitz-Birkenau). Not in photos, not in movie ... just a place ... And then you will tell me, if we (I mean world) can forget it. I hope, that with years will be more and more positive thinking about the sign than negative, also over here. Thank you, Premasagar for your wise words, and I would like to repeat them again: "This will take time. It is such a sensitive issue. Let everybody be heard and let no one have their true feelings stifled." Thank you all, it's important and good discuss :-) Posted 27 months ago. ( permalink )
	premasagar says: It's great to learn something new :-) I think that your idea is great, and I want to thank you very much, Premasagar :-D It is my pleasure, Ewa's Oceans. And I appreciate your continued thoughts. I have been to Aushwitz and, to this day, I find it the most chilling reminder of how anti-human a society can be. I felt such strong emotion that I'd find it impossible to describe. I do not think that Hitler and the Nazi philosophy can or should ever be forgotten. The way that Nazism attempted to encircle and devour the swastika, along with all that it represents, is not something to be merely overlooked or brushed aside. Rather, I feel that the Nazi's attempt to fly the flag of the swastika is entirely relevant to the swastika's meaning... Their destructive philosophy was the polar opposite of the victory of spiritual union of which the swastika speaks. Hitler attempted to make society breathe his ideas, but humanity could never accept such a way. I believe that humanity essentially seeks emancipation through union. As such, the Nazi proposition could never succeed. He tried to pour a maligned idea into the eternal truth of the swastika, but such corruption is ultimately impossible. Posted 27 months ago. ( permalink )

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Some rights reserved Anyone can see this photo

Taken in Jamalpur, Bihar (map)
Taken with a DMC-FZ5.
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Taken on December 23, 2005

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Turquoise Swastika

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Ewa's Oceans says:

Gale Franey says:

premasagar says:

Gale Franey says:

Kartoffelita says:

premasagar says:

Ewa's Oceans says:

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