Swastika
An ancient sacred sign of good fortune in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, and since 1920 the emblem of the Nazi party.
Also: svastika, manji, hakenkreuz, sauwastika
The swastika, from Sanskrit svasti, well-being, is a cross with arms bent at right angles. It has been found on objects from the Neolithic Near East, Europe and the Indus Valley, in Greek and Native American art, and it is still a sacred sign for Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. It is drawn on doors, at weddings and at Diwali, and in Jain belief it stands for the four states of rebirth. In Japan the Buddhist form, manji, marks temples on maps. In 1920 the Nazi party adopted the Hakenkreuz, which became associated with genocide, and its display is banned in Germany and several countries. Hindu and Buddhist groups have asked that the two uses be distinguished.