The Swastika has been called by different names in different countries,
though nearly all countries have in later years accepted the ancient
Sanskrit name of Swastika; and this name is recommended as the most
definite and certain, being now the most general and, indeed, almost
universal. It was formerly spelled s-v-a-s-t-i-c-a and s-u-a-s-t-i-k-a,
but the later spelling, both English and French, is s-w-a-s-t-i-k-a. The
definition and etymology of the word is thus given in Littre's French
Dictionary:
_Svastika_, or _Swastika_, a mystic figure used by several (East)
Indian sects. It was equally well known to the Brahmins as to the
Buddhists. Most of the rock inscriptions in the Buddhist caverns in
the west of India are preceded or followed by the holy
(_sacramentelle_) sign of the Swastika. (Eug. Burnouf, "Le Lotus de la
bonne loi." Paris, 1852, p. 625.) It was seen on the vases and pottery
of Rhodes (Cyprus) and Etruria. (F. Delaunay, Jour. Off., Nov. 18,
1873, p. 7024, 3d Col.)
Etymology: A Sanskrit word signifying happiness, pleasure, good luck.
It is composed of _Su_ (equivalent of Greek [Greek: eu]), "good," and
_asti_, "being," "good being," with the suffix _ka_ (Greek [Greek:
ka], Latin _co_).
In the "Revue d'Ethnographie" (IV, 1885, p. 329), Mr. Dumoutier gives the
following analysis of the Sanskrit _swastika_:
_Su_, radical, signifying _good_, _well_, _excellent_, or _suvidas_,
prosperity.
_Asti_, third person, singular, indicative present of the verb _as_,
to be, which is _sum_ in Latin.
_Ka_, suffix forming the substantive.
Professor Whitney in the Century Dictionary says, Swastika--[Sanskrit,
lit., "of good fortune." Svasti (_Su_, well, + _asti_, being), welfare.]
Same as fylfot. Compare _Crux ansata_ and _gammadion_.
In "Ilios" (p. 347), Max Müller says:
Ethnologically, _svastika_ is derived from _svasti_, and _svasti_ from
_su_, "well," and _as_, "to be." _Svasti_ occurs frequently in the
Veda, both as a noun in a sense of happiness, and as an adverb in the
sense of "well" or "hail!" It corresponds to the Greek [Greek:
euestô]. The derivation _Svasti-ka_ is of later date, and it always
means an auspicious sign, such as are found most frequently among
Buddhists and Jainas.