Swastika Design

“Derived from the Sanscrit word Svasti, which means good pretence. It dates bck three or four thousand years B.C. and has been found in nearly all excavations of prehistoric times and among the relics of primitive people all over the world. It has been known alike to Ancient Greeks, Egyptians, Chinese, Japanese, East Indians, Aztecs, mound builders, and the North and South American Indians, with all of whom it has a similar meaning, viz., good luck and happiness. In Indian it is drawn below the seats intended for bridegrooms, below the plates containing food to be offered to gods and is tattooed on the arms. It is drawn on the scalp at the thread ceremony and on the dorsum of the feet on all auspicious ceremonies, such as mariages, etc. The usual figure consists of four arms with the cross at right angles and the arms pointing in the direction of motion of a clock’s hand, although it has been given different forms, as shown by the accompanying illustrations. It is very commonly used as a rug design, especially in the Chinese, Caucasian, Turkish, and Turkoman products.”

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