Defending the use of Hindu Swastikas

[Kapalika]

Namaste. I've been working on a blog post the last day or so about the Hindu use of the Swastika, where I was going to characterize the argument against Hindu use of it in America and Europe as legitimizing imperialism, cultural misappropriation/bastardization and fascism by giving it ownership to fascists who stole it and used it for hate.

The only time I've had to actually "defend" myself was to explain to someone who asked seeing me with one (by accident) that mine was Hindu and I showed Sanskrit and that was the end of it. But I imagine for many of you either online, or in real life if you are in America or a 'western' country... what have you found is the most effective enlargement that convinces people? If any at all? Particularly with Diwali coming up in about a month and a half it's in my mind that maybe people took offense during Hindu holidays, if you live in some of the mentioned places outside of the Indian subcontinent.

I've found a lot of different Hindu Americans that wrote articles on their feelings about the subject as well have read some sites for the reclaiming of the symbol for religion... but I've not found a lot of ordinary Hindus and their thoughts or experiences with it. Obviously it will be very different in India, from America, from Europe and other places... which is part of why I wanted to ask here as I know we are a pretty diverse bunch.

 

[ajay0]

Namaste. I've been working on a blog post the last day or so about the Hindu use of the Swastika, where I was going to characterize the argument against Hindu use of it in America and Europe as legitimizing imperialism, cultural misappropriation/bastardization and fascism by giving it ownership to fascists who stole it and used it for hate.

The only time I've had to actually "defend" myself was to explain to someone who asked seeing me with one (by accident) that mine was Hindu and I showed Sanskrit and that was the end of it. But I imagine for many of you either online, or in real life if you are in America or a 'western' country... what have you found is the most effective enlargement that convinces people? If any at all? Particularly with Diwali coming up in about a month and a half it's in my mind that maybe people took offense during Hindu holidays, if you live in some of the mentioned places outside of the Indian subcontinent.

I've found a lot of different Hindu Americans that wrote articles on their feelings about the subject as well have read some sites for the reclaiming of the symbol for religion... but I've not found a lot of ordinary Hindus and their thoughts or experiences with it. Obviously it will be very different in India, from America, from Europe and other places... which is part of why I wanted to ask here as I know we are a pretty diverse bunch.

This has been a major problem for Hindus especially in Europe.

As per an article I read, Western countries have also kept India at arms length for decades as they felt it might rejuvenate nazism or neo-nazism in their countries and pose a major threat to freedom and democracy again.

It is important to create awareness of the fact that the Hindu Swastika means goodness and auspiciousness as per the Dharmic religions and is not a symbol of oppression and tyranny.

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

It's a complicated dance.

Speaking from personal experience - last year I bought an embroidered bag with many floral and animal designs on it while in India. It also has Ganesha flanked by two swastikas. Being Caucasian, I felt anxiety about returning to the US with it but I also felt like I shouldn't have to leave it behind since it is an aspect of my religion. It's just that very few outsiders would make that connection. I tied a scarf around the area with swastikas and carried it on the plane. While I'm glad I brought it home, I am also glad I covered it at that time because the flight had several orthodox Jewish passengers.

The issue is, the symbol now causes real trauma to people. So the question for me as a Hindu is - What is more important? Being compassionate to the experiences of my fellow man or insisting in the use of a symbol that doesn't feel anything one way or another?

I believe strongly that it's incredibly unjust that the swastika has been stolen in this way and used for adharmic purposes but maybe the solution lies not in insisting in reclaiming it, but turning focus to a new or alternate symbol such as the AUM symbol.

 

[Vinayaka]

I don't have strong feelings either way, but can easily explain the difference between the two. Here there isn't really that much mixing of naive cultures, and most people already know the difference. So it's becoming irrelevant, if it isn't already.

 

[Devaki]

Well I'm from Germany and I'm Caucasian so... this does come up quite a bit.

Back when I was a teenager some kids "ratted me out" to the teacher, telling them how I had "Nazi symbols" on my folder ( I had put stickers of deities and other auspicious symbols on it, because why not).
But the teacher knew about the difference and the symbolism and simply asked me to explain it to the rest of the class.

And that is really how it's been since - people comment on it/ ask about it, I explain the difference and the meaning to them and in 99.9% of cases they listen, understand and move on with their life.

For the few who insist on making mountains out of molehills and acting overly offended even after I explained it to them - well those aren't worth my time anyway.

 

[SomeRandom]

Ehh I've been to Temples who proudly display the Swastika. I live in Australia and never really had to "defend" anything. People just do their own thing.
I mean I don't go out of my way to use the swastika or anything.

 

[Jainarayan]

I don't have strong feelings either way, but can easily explain the difference between the two. Here there isn't really that much mixing of naive cultures, and most people already know the difference. So it's becoming irrelevant, if it isn't already.

Ehh I've been to Temples who proudly display the Swastika. I live in Australia and never really had to "defend" anything. People just do their own thing.
I mean I don't go out of my way to use the swastika or anything.

Canuckistanis and Ozistanis are just so laid back to begin with. I don't think you have a 1/100th of a percent of the fruitcakes Americastan has. We really are a hot mess here. Even though I have deities in my work cube, and everyone knows I'm a few fries short of a Happy Meal, I think it would still send some people here into a full-on jimmie-rustling shriekfest if I displayed a swastika. The problem is that most people are so freakin' stupid they don't know the differences between the two. They just think it's the same thing done any old way you want.

Big difference, but of course I'm preaching to the choir:

 

[Vinayaka]

Canuckistanis and Ozistanis are just so laid back to begin with. I don't think you have a 1/100th of a percent of the fruitcakes Americastan has. We really are a hot mess here. Even though I have deities in my work cube, and everyone knows I'm a few fries short of a Happy Meal, I think it would still send some people here into a full-on jimmie-rustling shriekfest if I displayed a swastika. The problem is that most people are so freakin' stupid they don't know the differences between the two. They just think it's the same thing done any old way you want.

Big difference, but of course I'm preaching to the choir:

View attachment 18695

I made swastikas in my woodworking hobby to give to friends.

 

[Jainarayan]

I made swastikas in my woodworking hobby to give to friends.

Reclaiming starts with small steps.

 

[Vinayaka]

Reclaiming starts with small steps.

We have a Deepavali bazaar here, and it's really filled with swastikas. I'm not really sure if non-Hindus realise how incredibly common it is in Indian culture.

 

[Jainarayan]

I'm not really sure if non-Hindus realise how incredibly common it is in Indian culture.

Same here. So many misunderstandings about Hinduism and Indian culture. I posted an article from Detechter on my Facebook page listing the 9 biggest misconceptions non-Hindus have about Hinduism. I don't know how many people actually read it, but I made the effort.

 

[Vinayaka]

But then some people also think Siva's trident is the devil's trident, and forehead marks are marks of the devil.

As for the swastika, obviously I would never flaunt it in public, or to a Jewish person. That type of behavior is uncalled for. Yes, the other swastika has strong nasty tones. I also react negatively to it, if I see it on a vehicle, symbolising hate.

Here's a Jewish response: Can The Swastika Be Rehabilitated?

Not sure if he speaks for all Jews, but I would imagine the reaction varies widely.

 

[Kapalika]

Thank you all for your responses! I feel it's helped me round out my approach, and made me realize my originally planned approach would be too assertive. I should avoid upsetting anyone, even if I'm right.

and everyone knows I'm a few fries short of a Happy Meal

Hey you ain't dumb! Don't go saying that lol

But then some people also think Siva's trident is the devil's trident, and forehead marks are marks of the devil.

Now these are the ones that are short a few fries...

Also I always thought the popular depiction came from Poseidon's Trident... most illustrative traits they associate with their devil comes from Greek and Roman gods like Pan... the earliest Christians were Greek after all.

But ya it's pretty silly. If they really think that there isn't at all a lot of similarity with their idea and our gods.

 

[Satyamavejayanti]

"Kapalika,"

Namaste,

I have had a Brass swastika/Om/trishule combo symbol on my work desk for the past 13 years, people ask why, and i tell them that this is actually a ancient Hindu symbol that is considered sacred, and the Nazis just used the symbol, does not mean that the Swastika is a Nazi symbol, just like the iron cross and the eagle also used by Nazi Germany does not mean that cross and eagles are Nazi specific symbols trademarked by them.
But being in Australia the culture here is quite laid back, and some just don't care or quite a few (especially the educated young ones in their 20s) are aware of the differences.

Dhanyavad

 

[Aupmanyav]

Obviously it will be very different in India, from America, from Europe and other places... which is part of why I wanted to ask here as I know we are a pretty diverse bunch.

With us, it is not even worth discussing. Swastika denotes welfare of all excluding none otherwise one sullies the idea of Swastika.

ॐ सर्वेशां स्वस्तिर्भवतु । सर्वेशां शान्तिर्भवतु ।
सर्वेशां पुर्णंभवतु । सर्वेशां मङ्गलंभवतु ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Om Sarveshām Svastir-Bhavatu | Sarveshām Shāntir-Bhavatu |
Sarveshām Purnnam-Bhavatu | Sarveshām Mangalam-Bhavatu |
Om Shāntih Shāntih Shāntih ||

1: May there be Well-Being in All, 2: May there be Peace in All,
3: May there be Fulfilment in All, 4: May there be Auspiciousness in All,
5: Om Peace, Peace, Peace.

Swastika and the Star of David are both auspicious for Hindus, the latter representing 'Shakti'. If you would visit my albums named Swasti 1 and 2, you would see how Swastika and the Star of David coexist happily in India.

I insist on my avatara in all forums that I visit. Yes, there are questions about it and I explain. I have never failed in that. The Hindu Swastika is not at all like the Nazi Swastika as you must have seen in the post by Jai (@Jainarayan . It is always in a happy color - Red, Yellow or Orange, with dots and the end of the arms raised a little.

And now Israel is a friend to India, Netanyahu and Modi hugging each other three times in 10 minutes on arrival and the President Rivlin saying that handshake is for strangers before he too hugged Narendra Modi. I do not think any Jew has a problem with India.