seemedlogic-blog

[seemedlogic-blog]

Why we draw Swastika the way we draw?

This is for all my friends who’re followers of Hinduism or are interested in understanding it. 

We Hindus have been, without failing, using this symbol everywhere and every time. We have seen our mothers, priests, all the well learned class of people using this symbol. But what does this symbol represent.n  I have tried to understand our ritual that we follow in our daily lives. Well this means I ask a lot of questions which brings a lot of irritation to people :P (I am evil ). We draw this on aarti thalis, entrance of houses and offices, on new vehicle, financial books, on our foreheads (in some communities) and even at funerals; basically always. For many of us, this sign represents positivity, prosperity, wealth, health, luck and fortune.  

I have been reading  “My Gita” written by Devdutt Pattnaik. Well it’s my second time reading it. I couldn’t  process it in first go. So many thoughts and concepts for my first read. In his book he mentions swastika as the theory of “four - fold division” of the world.  As he mentions and I can understand it according to Hindu Mythology, the existence of world and life is based on humans, animals, plants and elements (water, fire, earth, sky). My Gita, Chapter 3, Pg 56. It was just a concept he pulled to explain other concept (for curiosity, refer the book). 

I have tried to hunt for answers on why do we do certain things in certain way through reading blogs, articles, books, discussions and putting my own logic. I am writing this article to share my opinion on why we draw symbol of Swastika the way we draw it. I could be absolutely wrong with my theory. I am giving a disclaimer here. I am not writing this article to offend or disrespect anyone. Its just a thought crossed my mind and all I wanted to do was share it with people. This may help my generation or older generation or future generation to understand why we do certain things in certain way  and what could be the meaning behind it. (Once you get the meaning, its easy to accept it rather than retaliating it)

In Gita, they say the soul never dies. There’s a previous life that we have lived, a life we are living now and there’s a life after death like rebirth. Nature keeps playing her role in maintaining the balance between everything, even cosmic activities. Many of us keep following this logic of “what goes around, come around” or “whatever happens, happens for good” or “everyone has to pay for its deeds” (Karma)” and so on. I have always believed whatever we are following in name of religion or rituals or superstitions has to have some meaning behind it. I mean, no one can be that stupid to follow it for centuries after centuries blindly. Its just that the reasons and explanations of certain acts have never been explained and we are still finding difficulty in reasoning it out and many don’t match with our existing circumstances. In fact, I don’t believe astrology is fake. Something which has been practiced for such a long time has to have some significance. I am writing my first article explaining the representation of Swastika symbol. 

My theory on this is symbol of Swastika and the theory mentioned above makes sense to me. Only when the FOUR - humans, animals, plants and elements work together, they strike a balance with nature making the world a livable place, creating world, creating life.   

The extra line we draw that I have highlighted in the symbol with color can have its own reasons . Extended line could be a meaning of growth. When we draw that extended line, we are also praying or hoping for these four aspects to extend and grow in right proportions and there should always be a balance. Just like shagun ka lifafa (cash envelope) we receive or give away - it always has money in format of 101, 201, 251, 501, 1001 and so on. The 1 we add behind the main amount is the extension like an extra push. The giver prays or hopes that this lifafa (envelope)/ offering given to the receiver gives growth and progress in the event for which it has been offered. 

I know this is deep! I remember when I was a kid I was collecting charity for a cause in my neighborhood. One of them gave me the charity and Re 1 coin and told me this is for your growth (that I get good amount for charity) and wished me luck. I was too young to understand the meaning but now I get it loud and clear.  

The set of parallel lines we draw in all four directions can be meaningful too (Not everything is just a drawing). In my opinion, these lines represent boundaries. We all want four aspects (humans, animals, plants and elements) to grow but not outflow or exceed than required. The nature always strike a balance so when we hope things to grow and bring prosperity, this only happens when they grow in particular proportion and in given limitation of nature. There’s an old saying “Har cheez ki atti haanikarak hoti hai” - anything in excess is always harmful. Considering 4 set of parallel lines are drawn in 4 directions - East, West, North, South we are also helping nature to bring balance and keep our lives running unconsciously. 

But but but I see irony in this. We have been using Swastika symbol everywhere in name of ritual, belief and religion. What I don’t get is how we could ignore the basic meaning of it. Humans have come a long way to put themselves superior to everything and everyone that exist around them. For our ease or I say luxury, we have been distorting other three aspects of life and nature i.e plants, animals and elements. We haven’t left any of them unharmed or destroyed them causing imbalance. Pollution, population, foeticide, global warming, dirty water, bad air, disease, no greenery, animal extinction, animal hunting, plastics. We are the SOLE REASONS of our and other’s problem.  The funny part we are the cribbers too. We are the main reason why there is an imbalance and we are the same people who rant about it all the time. I am not trying to be environment activist or social changer. All I am saying is we are using the symbol of swastika in everyday of our lives hoping for best to happen with us and around us but unconsciously. 

Why can’t we just bring the concepts that we have been following in names of rituals, belief and religion to our PRACTICE CONSCIOUSLY.  This is the most basic thing we can do to respect our belief system and keep it going and not just fade away because generation today isn’t getting it anyway. We can consciously act upon our belief system and help nature in bringing balance of life and inculcate the same in our future generation. Only then I see a balance, survival, life and our existence.