The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c16.s2.40

v2.c16.s2.40

Below the last occurs the well-known *svastika*, but not formed in the usual way with single lines, but with double line as shewn on the margine (Woodcut No. 2) bearing in this respect some slight resemblance to the symbol called *nandyāvarta*, (Woodcut No. 3,) which was the emblem of the twenty-third Jain-Ara. The resemblance, however, appears to be accidental, and due to the artist's adopting the double line to set off the figure to No. 3. the best advantage, and not to any defective attempt to produce the Nandyāvarta, the peculiar character of which is produced by the square which encloses the *svastika*, and not to the double lines. The *savastika* itself, however, is a Jain emblem, and is reckoned among the twenty four characteristic marks which were successively adopted by the different deified Jain saints for their emblems. These marks are thus enumerated by the Jain lexicographer Hemacandra: "The bull, the elephant, the horse, the monkey, the heron, the lotus, the *savastika*, the cresent, the shark (*makara*), the *Śrivatsa*, the rhinoceros, the buffaloe, the hog, the eagle, the thunderbolt, the deer, the goat, the *nandyāvarta*, the water-jar, the tortoise, the blue lotus, the conch-shell, the cobra, and the lion are the emblems (or flags? *dvajā*) of the Arhats." All these emblems are, however, common both to the Jains and the Buddhists, most of them, likewise, occur in the mystic writings of the Hindus. The *savastika* is particularly so; it is avowedly Jain; the Buddhists look upon it with great veneration, and many of their ancient princes adopted it for their seal, and impressed it on their coins; and in the Tantras of the Hindus it is highly extolled for its mystic virtues. Nor is it confined to India alone, "for it occurs on the oldest Greek coins, on Etruscan vases, on the Newton Stone, Aberdeen, on Celtic monuments, and in ecclesiastical sculptures, styled there the Tetragrammaton, being supposed made up of four T, and the second confounded with that of the sacred *Tetragrammaton*. Similarly the Isis worshippers of Egypt marked the sacred vases of their goddess, before using it at their rites."²⁵ It occurs further among the Gnostics, and the Freemasons have adopted it as one of their mystic symbols. A modification of it is the distinctive badge of *xaca Japonicus*; and the *crux ansata* and the *sistrum* are allied to it; and persons are not wanting who fancy the European coronation orb to be closely related to this mystic cross. Dr. Inman takes it to be a phallic symbol.²⁶ That it is intimately connected with the pre-Christian cross, none who has studied the history of ancient mystic symbols will for a moment deny; but it is not necessary for me to enter into the subject at length here, as a symbol of so wide a diffusion can be of little use in determining the religious leaning of the record.