Swastika

The swastika (Skt. svastika; Tib. གཡུང་དྲུང།, Wyl. g.yung drung) is one of the most ancient and universal symbols and is found in almost every known culture of the world. In ancient China, for example, the swastika was a Taoist symbol of eternity, and in India it is considered to be originally a solar symbol, derived from the motion of the sun through the four quarters and seasons.

In Vajrayana Buddhism the swastika symbolizes the element of earth, and its indestructible stability. In this respect it is closely related to the symbol of the double vajra.