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[[Image:Swastika-HindiBook.jpg|thumb|right|200px|An example of a swastika on a Hindi book.]]

[[Image:Swastika-HindiBook.jpg|thumb|right|200px|An example of a swastika on a Hindi book.]]

'''Swastika''' (Sanskrit: ''svástika'' स्वस्तिक; "well-being"; German: ''hakenkreuz''; "hooked cross") is an ancient symbol usually associated with Eastern religions or as decorative art as early as the [[Bronze Age]]; its use in [[Germany]] as an emblem for the [[Nazi Party]] made it one of the most recognizable symbols of hatred in history.

'''Swastika''' or '''Swastik''' (Sanskrit: ''svástika'' स्वस्तिक; "well-being"; German: ''hakenkreuz''; "hooked cross") is an ancient symbol usually associated with Eastern religions or as decorative art as early as the [[Bronze Age]]; its use in [[Germany]] as an emblem for the [[Nazi Party]] made it one of the most recognizable symbols of hatred in history.

The swastika is an even cross based on the dimentions of a square, with the arms of the cross bent at right angles either clockwise or counter-clockwise. Usually most religious instances of the swastika are based on the dimentions of a square;<ref>[http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/15/151.html http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/15/151.html]</ref> while Nazi use has it based on the dimentions of a diamond shape (square tilted @ 45 degrees). <ref>[http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/34/3413.html http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/34/3413.html]</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4183467.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4183467.stm]</ref>

The historical swastik is an even cross based on the dimentions of a square, with the arms of the cross bent at right angles either clockwise or counter-clockwise. Usually most religious instances of the swastika are based on the dimentions of a square;<ref>[http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/15/151.html http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/15/151.html]</ref> while Nazi use has it based on the dimentions of a diamond shape (square tilted @ 45 degrees). <ref>[http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/34/3413.html http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/34/3413.html]</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4183467.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4183467.stm]</ref>

Found in ancient sites world-wide, it has been surmised that it was used to symbolize the rotation of the sun or creation, as the arms give the impression of continual rotation.  [[Heinrich Schliemann]] found images of the swastika painted on pottery recovered from the ruins of [[Troy]] during his expeditions there in the 1870's.  As a religious symbol, the swastika has powerful symbolic meanings in the [[Buddhism|Buddhist]], [[Jain]], and [[Hindu]] religions.

Found in ancient sites world-wide, it has been surmised that it was used to symbolize the rotation of the sun or creation, as the arms give the impression of continual rotation.  [[Heinrich Schliemann]] found images of the swastika painted on pottery recovered from the ruins of [[Troy]] during his expeditions there in the 1870's.  As a religious symbol, the swastika has powerful symbolic meanings in the [[Buddhism|Buddhist]], [[Jain]], and [[Hindu]] religions.