Swastika and its use.

[Storm]

but go back and read EVERY educational post by Yajvan.

I did a search, and wow! That's a LOT of threads. Can you recommend a starting point?

[Darji]

I did a search, and wow! That's a LOT of threads. Can you recommend a starting point?

The Beginning.

Not trying to be smart, just you have to realize how vast this is. If you want more of a Hinduism 101, and seeing you are pointed toward the Shaiva side of things then check out http://www.himalayanacademy.com/basics/

One thing I used to absolutely hate about this forum is the fact no one gives a direct straight answer to anything, I've come to the understanding that there are no straight answers. So unless you have a guru or talk regularly with someone who is on the same path, everything here will be general. So just be a sponge, and, if this is the path for you and Bhagavan finds you worthy, then a teacher will present him/ herself to you. When I first started out, not to long ago actually, I pretty much convinced myself I was a Nimbark, even though the magic eight-ball said "All signs point to No", then finally I stopped looking, centred myself, and sat down and started chanting Rama Nama (for no real or evident reason) and the very next day I found my path and was in communication with a Ramanandi parivar and was welcomed with open arms and I felt at home and suddenly all my thoughts, feelings and beliefs came into focus. So my advice to any noob here, relax, learn the fundamentals, centre yourself and ask God for guidance HE WILL LISTEN and send you someone when you are ready (sometimes when you are not).

[Storm]

The Beginning.

Not trying to be smart, just you have to realize how vast this is.

I have an inkling, at least. But I'm ambitious, lol.

If you want more of a Hinduism 101, and seeing you are pointed toward the Shaiva side of things then check out http://www.himalayanacademy.com/basics/

That looks perfect! Thank you yet again.

One thing I used to absolutely hate about this forum is the fact no one gives a direct straight answer to anything, I've come to the understanding that there are no straight answers. So unless you have a guru or talk regularly with someone who is on the same path, everything here will be general. So just be a sponge, and, if this is the path for you and Bhagavan finds you worthy, then a teacher will present him/ herself to you.

Excellent point.

[Darji]

damn that was a fast response!, My screen hadn't even refreshed yet!

Well good to see you are all over it

[Storm]

LOL, I'm eager, too.

[Eastern Mind]

One thing I used to absolutely hate about this forum is the fact no one gives a direct straight answer to anything, I've come to the understanding that there are no straight answers.

This is so true. Everyone will have two answers or more. I know for me, if I am hosting an educational tour, at out temple, and when I get a question, I often say. "Which answer do you want, what Hindus generally believe, what my particular sect believes, or my own personal opinion?"

All three answers will vary. As far as a direct answer goes, personal opinion is most apt at directness. But here again we have many people who actually don't know what they themselves believe. All they are doing is regurgitating what they have read somewhere.

It also gets confusing when people express their opinion maintaining it is what all Hindus believe, or ethnocentricity, village mentality. They need to move a round a bit more, I think.

Then again most questions can be answered on two or more levels, certainly an intellectual one, and also a mystical one. So if someone like Storm may ask a simple question and get 7 different answers. Then he has to sit down and ask, "Which of these makes the most sense to me?" which is what he is doing now.

Aum Namasivaya

[rcscwc]

If I may offer an outsider's perspective....

I have mixed feelings about the goal of reclaiming the swastika. On the one hand, such a beautiful symbol should not be lost to perversion. On the other, I wonder if it's not too late. Even though I know better, every time I see one, I'm filled with revulsion, and there's a part of me that thinks this is proper.

I assure you that Hindus do not need to reclaim it; it was never lost to them. If someone uses the swastika as weapon to break heads, surely it is not be blamed. Then you will have to ban the kitchen knife too.

If you try to understand swastika's stutus among Indian faiths, then there would be no reason to revile it.

Sometimes it seems we're on the verge of forgetting the agonizing lessons of the Holocaust, and I for one, do not wish to have to learn them again. History must be honored.

Do you think a balance can be struck?

Hindus, Hinduism and Hindu symbols are not even connected with holocaust, which was due to religious and racial hatred for Jews.

What sort of balance do you have in mind?

[yajvan]

hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~

namast�

I assure you that Hindus do not need to reclaim it; it was never lost to them.
Hindus, Hinduism and Hindu symbols are not even connected with holocaust, which was due to religious and racial hatred for Jews.

A most wise post - thank you.

[Alise]

Well, people still associate swastika with holocaust.... Especially in Latvia. Socialism is famous here... There is still hatred of jews here..

I wouldn't use it in Latvia, 'cause people would misuderstood... But I like swastika as symbol & it's meaning is great. I read it was widely used even in Western world before holocaust as good luck sign and so on..

But I remember that Zara had purse with swastikas and flowers. Of course not associated with holocaust. Jews were complaining (I have nothing against jews), so they stopped to sell it...

People should remember the real meaning of swastika & use it again as good luck sign. Holocaust is bad past (I don't denial Holocaust), but it was not swastika's fault wrong people misused it in wrong time... Hope you understand my point.

Have a nice day,
~Alice

[devotee]

The right moving represents the sristhi power, (outward directed) it is more benefical in a material way, and therefore more appropriate for the grihasta and his aim to attract worldly auspicousness, the left moving is the return movement, samhara, the dissolving power, (inward directed) therefore more apppropiate or benefical for renunciation, yoga and sadhana. Both are auspicious.

Any scriptural reference to support this view ?

OM