Buddha with a swastika

Traveling through Asia, you regularly come across the symbol of the swastika, which immediately reminds you of the Second World War. During that period, the swastika was the symbol of Nazi Germany and its supporters in other countries. I still remember a day trip by train from Hua Lamphong station in Bangkok to Kanchanaburi and over the River Kwai bridge to Nam Tok.

At the time I was immensely annoyed by a Thai young man who belonged to the group in a T-shirt with a large swastika. Couldn't help talking to him about it. It made no impression on him at all, nor did he have any idea of ​​my pent-up anger. Perhaps he knew more about the symbolism of the symbol than I did at the time, who knows.

Back in time

The swastika is called swastika in Sanskrit, a language still in use in India. The oldest images of swastikas found were found around 2500 years BC in northwestern India around the Indus River.

The symbol - the four hooks - stands for the four cardinal points and for fire, sun, movement and the eternal cycle. In Buddhism and Hinduism, this symbol is also often found on the chest or feet of Buddha statues. In India and Nepal in particular, many temples are decorated with swastikas. The symbol is also called the sun wheel there, as a symbol for the four cardinal points.

The origin of the swastika, or rather the swastika, therefore goes back many centuries and is certainly not an invention of the Nazis. It is a very strong symbol that throughout the ages has been a sign for life force, happiness and religion worldwide. The difference between the Nazi swastika and the swastika is that the swastika is tilted relative to the upright swastika. Simply put: stealing work.

Symbols can often be very strong and just think of the Red Cross, hammer and sickle, the peace sign and the rainbow flag to name just a few non-commercial symbols. In the commercial field, just think of the spelling of Coca Cola, the Shell emblem, the M of Mc Donalds, the star of Mercedes, the apple of Apple and so on.

During my last trip I was once again confronted with this swastika, which still evokes unpleasant memories for me.

It was depicted on a large old pottery jar at the entrance of a temple. But now knowing better, you look a little further at other symbols that are depicted. If you look at the photo you will also see two other symbols. On the right the dharma wheel, the symbol of Buddhism with the meaning of spirituality, spiritual teachings, psycho-spiritual desire, the essence of existence, absorption in one's original state or the way of social justice.

On the left is a lotus flower. The symbolic meaning is the 'growth towards enlightenment' and arises from the growth process of the flower. The lotus flower settles in the mud under water and then grows very powerfully towards the light, after which we can observe a beautiful flower on the water. We can also go through this process as human beings, see the mud as ignorance and suffering and as you grow you become wiser and once enlightenment is achieved, you shine just like that beautiful lotus flower. Another story doing the rounds is that Buddha was born from the lotus flower. This would also be the reason why Buddha is often depicted with or on a lotus flower. And here too, as with many other beliefs; you firmly believe in it or refer it to the land of fables. Closing with a concise Thai saying: Up to you!

Source: history.net