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swastica

swastica


  1  definition  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Swastika  \Swas"ti*ka\,  Swastica  \Swas"ti*ca\,  n.  [Also 
  {suastica},  {svastika},  etc.]  [Skr.  svastika,  fr  svasti 
  walfare;  su  well  +  asti  being.] 
  A  symbol  or  ornament  in  the  form  of  a  Greek  cross  with  the 
  ends  of  the  arms  at  right  angles  all  in  the  same  direction, 
  and  each  prolonged  to  the  height  of  the  parallel  arm  of  the 
  cross.  A  great  many  modified  forms  exist,  ogee  and  volute  as 
  well  as  rectilinear,  while  various  decorative  designs,  as 
  Greek  fret  or  meander,  are  derived  from  or  closely  associated 
  with  it  The  swastika  is  found  in  remains  from  the  Bronze  Age 
  in  various  parts  of  Europe,  esp.  at  Hissarlik  (Troy),  and  was 
  in  frequent  use  as  late  as  the  10th  century.  It  is  found  in 
  ancient  Persia,  in  India,  where  both  Jains  and  Buddhists  used 
  (or  still  use)  it  as  religious  symbol,  in  China  and  Japan, 
  and  among  Indian  tribes  of  North,  Central,  and  South  America. 
  It  is  usually  thought  to  be  a  charm,  talisman,  or  religious 
  token,  esp.  a  sign  of  good  luck  or  benediction.  Max  M["u]Ller 
  distinguished  from  the  swastika,  with  arms  prolonged  to  the 
  right  the  suavastika  with  arms  prolonged  to  the  left  but 
  this  distinction  is  not  commonly  recognized.  Other  names  for 
  the  swastika  are  {fylfot}  and  {gammadion}.