Manasara Series (I. A Dictionary of Hindu Architecture; II. Indian Architecture according to Manasara-Shilpashastra; III. Manasara on Architecture and Sculpture: Sanskrit Text; IV. Architecture of Manasara: Translation; V. Architecture of Manasara: Illustrations; VI. Hindu Architecture in India and Abroad; VII. An Encyclopaedia of Hindu Architecture) v7.c47.7286

v7.c47.7286

The term ‘Svastika’ is etymologically composed of three parts ‘su’ (good, auspicious), ‘asti’ (‘as’ to be, ‘ti’ affix for third person singular or the suffix ‘ti’ added to verbal root to form verbal or abstract noun, like ‘gati’ going ; ‘rati’, love or love goddess, etc., thus ‘asti’ may be equivalent to ‘sthiti’, stay or settlement) and the suffix ‘ka’ (to imply possession of, as in Bāla (=hair) ka (possessing) which means a boy having his hair grown. This derivation of the term from Sanskrit is corroborated by the monogram Yungdrung which as quoted above is composed or two syllables, su ([Figure:]) and ti ([Figure:]) and is the mystic emblem ([Figure:]) of the Bon religion Tungdrung. Mr. A. H. Francke (*Ind. Ant.* xxx, 132) took this symbol to represent the sun as the Creator of East, South, West, and North, the little mark at the end of each line indicating the inclination of the sun to proceed from one point to the other. Thus the Sanskrit ‘svastika’ should imply any object possessing, indicating, or ending at an auspicious omen. This etymological meaning of the classic emblem has retained its original sense everywhere probably excluding Germany of Hilter’s day. But there are various theories to explain its design and purpose.