The swastika has appeared in different forms, in different places and for different reasons, in human culture since pre-historic times. The meaning has been a "Wheel of Life," a "Sun-Wheel," the four points of the compass, the four winds, Man himself, a symbol of the Hopi emergence into the current world (showing the directions taken by the various tribes in their wanderings) ... many, many interpetations have been given to this most ancient symbol.
It can be found with both right-angled arms, and with curved arms
rather like two letters "S" superimposed at right-angles to each other.
It's wide distribution in so many varying cultures shows quite conclusively that it is neither an "Aryan" nor an non-"Aryan" symbol, the
pretensions of the NSDAP (German Nazi Party) and their descendants
notwithstanding.
The Oriental interpetation has been that of a "Sun-Wheel," with the
right-handed version being for "life" or the Sun, and the left-handed
version being for "death" or the Moon.
* * *
"right handed" < - - - - - - - - - - - - > "left handed"
Sunwise (deasil) rotation - - - - - - - - Widdershins rotation
(heraldic default position) - - - - - - - (heraldic reversed position)
It is interesting to note that the original designer of the insignia of the NSDAP, Dr. Freidrich Krohn (see below), initially drew it right-handed, but Hitler insisted on its being changed to the left-handed version.
http://www.hostultra.com/~Exidor/Swastika/Swastika.html
