swastika symbol

The swastika is an ancient symbol consisting of a cross with arms bent at right angles, used for millennia across cultures from Hindu and Buddhist traditions to Native American designs, typically representing good fortune or spiritual concepts.

In the 20th century, the Nazi Party adopted a tilted black swastika on white and red as its emblem, permanently associating the symbol in Western consciousness with fascism, antisemitism, and genocide.

This appropriation has made the swastika taboo in most Western contexts, though it remains a sacred symbol in South Asian religions: The temple entrance displayed a traditional swastika.