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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''' or '''Swastik''' (Sanskrit: ''svástika'' स्वस्तिक; "well-being") is an ancient symbol usually associated with Eastern religions or as decorative art as early as the [[Bronze Age]]. Contrary to popular belief, the symbol used by the Nazis was not the Swastika but the [[Hakenkreuz]].

'''Swastika''' or '''Swastik''' (Sanskrit: ''svástika'' स्वस्तिक; "well-being") is an ancient symbol usually associated with Eastern religions or as decorative art as early as the [[Bronze Age]]. Hindus claim that the [[Hakenkreuz]] symbol used by the Nazis was a different form the Swastika.

The historical swastika is an even cross, with the arms bent at right angles either clockwise or counter-clockwise. Usually most religious instances of the swastika are based on the dimensions of a square,<ref>[http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/15/151.html http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/15/151.html]</ref> and has been surmised to be 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 1870s.  As a religious symbol, the swastika has powerful symbolic meanings in the [[Buddhism|Buddhist]], [[Jain]], and [[Hindu]] religions.  As such, it was adopted by [[Rudyard Kipling]] as part of the logo on most of his books.

The historical swastika is an even cross, with the arms bent at right angles either clockwise or counter-clockwise. Usually most religious instances of the swastika are based on the dimensions of a square,<ref>[http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/15/151.html http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/15/151.html]</ref> and has been surmised to be 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 1870s.  As a religious symbol, the swastika has powerful symbolic meanings in the [[Buddhism|Buddhist]], [[Jain]], and [[Hindu]] religions.  As such, it was adopted by [[Rudyard Kipling]] as part of the logo on most of his books.