HINDUISM AND DESIGN- SWASTIK SYMBOL

 
Source:-https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/columns/t-j-s-george/2021/aug/22/seeing-hinduism-upside-down-2347991.html


The Indian subcontinent's primary religion is Hinduism. It is often said to be the world's oldest living religion, dating back to the Iron Age. Hinduism, rather than being a strict set of beliefs, is a mixture of many traditions and ideologies. Most Hindus believe in a single supreme God who manifests as devas (celestial beings or deities) in a variety of forms, and they may worship particular devas as aspects of the same God
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Hindu temples, in which architecture and sculpture are closely linked, are usually devoted to different deities, and Hindu art reflects this diversity of beliefs. Shiva the Destroyer, Vishnu in his incarnations as Rama and Krishna, Ganesha, the elephant god of prosperity, and various kinds of Shakti (literally "power"), the primordial feminine creative energy, are all popular deities. These gods are sometimes depicted with several limbs and heads to show the vastness of their power and abilities. The om, an invocation of God's divine consciousness; the swastika, a symbol of auspiciousness; and the lotus flower, a symbol of purity, beauty, fertility, and transcendence, are all symbols that appear frequently in Hindu art.

Symbols in Hindu Sculpture

Source:-www.everypixel.com/q/hinduism-religion-symbols


The om, an invocation of God's divine consciousness; the swastika, a mark of auspiciousness; and the lotus flower, a symbol of purity, beauty, prosperity, fertility, and transcendence, are all prominent holy symbols in Hindu sculpture. 
Because of its own blossoming process, the lotus flower is associated with these qualities: the flower emerges from muck and rests atop the water in which it blooms, representing the difficulty it must overcome in order to achieve maximum beauty. 
Many deities, such as Lakshmi, have names derived from the Sanskrit word for lotus. Flowers, birds, animals, instruments, symmetric mandala designs, items, and idols are all part of Hindu symbolic imagery, in addition to these symbols.

Swastik in Hinduism

Source:- https://vancouversun.com/news/staff-blogs/hinduism-diwali-and-swastikas-explained

The Swastika emblem is regarded to be extremely fortunate, and it is frequently utilized in Hindu art and construction. It occupies a unique place among the wedding decorations. Swastika designs can be found on temples, entrances, clothing, and cars, among many other places. The Swastik emblem is embossed on the majority of wedding cards. 

The four wings of the Swastik cross point in four directions: north, east, south, and west, denoting strength, stability, and firmness. It is regarded as the Sun's sign, and so represents Lord Surya. The swastika is revered as a sacred symbol, and as a result, it may be found on practically anything linked with Hinduism. It is employed as a holy emblem in all Hindu yantras because of its sanctity.

  • In Sanskrit, the word swastika is a combination of ‘su’ (meaning ‘good’) and ‘asti’ (meaning ‘to exist’)

Source:-https://www.hinduamerican.org/blog/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-swastika


Popularly, this gets translated as ‘all is well.’ The swastika is thus understood to be a symbol of auspiciousness and good fortune, and is regularly donned on Hindu homes, businesses, printed materials, cars, temples, and ashrams.

  • Many Hindus adorn the threshold of the front entrance to their homes with the swastika

Source:-https://www.hinduamerican.org/blog/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-swastika


They may wash away existing swastikas and reapply them, or include them in their rangoli, especially around Diwali, (a traditional art form using dyed powders, rice, and grains, or flowers to decorate the ground of courtyards). Often, the swastika is made by arranging diyas in a creative way (clay lamps).

  • Other faith traditions originating in India also regularly use the swastika, with a similar auspicious meaning

Source:-https://www.hinduamerican.org/blog/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-swastika


The swastika represents the Buddha's footprints and heart to Buddhists. The swastika represents the seventh Tirthankara (meaning "ford-maker," one of the liberated souls in the Jain tradition who shows the way for others), with the arms indicating one of the four places a soul might be reincarnated in the cycle of birth and death.

  • There are a variety of symbolic meanings associated with the limbs of the swastika in Hinduism 

Source:-https://www.hinduamerican.org/blog/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-swastika/

They are the four Vedas (Rig, Yajur, Sama, and Atharva), which are the core Hindu scriptures. Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha can be looked at as the four life aims (right action, worldly prosperity, worldly enjoyment, and spiritual liberation). The four seasons, four directions, and four yugas, or epochs, are likewise represented by the four limbs (Satya, Treta, Dvapara, Kali).


References:-

https://www.hinduamerican.org/blog/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-swastika/
http://www.thecolorsofindia.com/swastik/swastika-in-hinduism.html
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-arthistory/chapter/hindu-art/

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