Swastika - Significance, Meaning & How to Draw It Right

The word swastika comes from the Sanskrit su-asti - 'su' meaning good and 'asti' meaning to be, together meaning 'let there be well-being'. It is one of the oldest and most auspicious symbols in Hindu tradition, drawn to invite good fortune, prosperity and the blessings of the divine. Far older than any modern misuse, the Hindu swastika is a pure and sacred sign of mangalkari (auspicious) energy.

The swastika's four arms, bent clockwise, carry layers of meaning. They represent the four Vedas (Rig, Yajur, Sama, Atharva), the four directions and the four goals of life - dharma, artha, kama and moksha. The central point is the still centre, often linked to Lord Vishnu or the navel of creation, while the turning arms show the sun's motion and the cycle of life. The four dots added in each quadrant are seen as the divine watching over all directions.

The swastika is considered the symbol of Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, and is drawn before any auspicious beginning so that work proceeds without hindrance. It is marked at the threshold during Diwali, weddings, griha pravesh and pujas, on account books on Lakshmi Puja, and on new vehicles and homes. Its presence is believed to ward off negative energy and invite the goddess Lakshmi and lasting prosperity.

The clockwise (right-facing) swastika is the auspicious form, representing the forward motion of the sun, prosperity, growth and positive energy. The anticlockwise (left-facing) form, sometimes called sauvastika, is associated with the night, with the goddess Kali and with the dissolution side of creation, and is generally not drawn for everyday auspicious purposes. For home worship and festivals, always draw the clockwise swastika.

1. Use kumkum (red), roli or haldi mixed with a little water; red is the most auspicious. 2. Begin by drawing a vertical line and a horizontal line crossing at the centre to form a plus sign. 3. From the end of each arm, draw a short line bent to the right (clockwise), all turning in the same direction. 4. Place a dot in each of the four quadrants formed between the arms. 5. Keep the lines even and the figure upright, with arms of equal length. Draw it with a clean hand and a calm, devotional mind, ideally with the ring finger.

Do: draw the clockwise swastika with kumkum or haldi at the threshold, mandir, account books and before auspicious work, keeping the lines neat and upright. Don't: draw it on the floor where it will be stepped on, on footwear or unclean surfaces, or in the anticlockwise form for everyday worship. Treat the symbol with respect, as it represents Ganesha and the wish for universal well-being.