Myths and legends

Apparently, in stories about the Himalayas, I will have to bypass one of the most frequently used symbols in Nepal and Tibet.

Swastika. Swastika-like symbols have been and are used in many cultures since ancient times. The most ancient objects decorated with a swastika were found in the territory of modern Iran. These are earthen vessels, created five thousand years before our era. There were similar symbols among the ancient Slavs, the ancient Greeks, the Celts and the Romans. The swastika mark is found in the tombs of the Egyptian pharaohs, was used by the American Indians long before the Columbus expedition.

Most often, the use of the swastika is associated with various cults of the Sun. Translated from Sanskrit, the word "swastika" means "wish for good luck and well-being."

The nazists, under the leadership of A. Hitler, proclaimed themselves the descendants of the ancient Aryans, whom they considered to be the highest race with secret knowledge and technologies. It seems that the use of the swastika by the ancient Aryans who lived on the territory of India and Iran was the reason that A. Hitler declared the swastika a symbol of "the struggle for the triumph of the Aryan race."

After the defeat of the Nazis, the use of Nazi symbols, including the swastika, was banned in many European countries. In Russia, the image of the swastika displayed without the purpose of propaganda (for example, in educational materials) is not a violation of the law.

Now no one remembers how widely the swastika was used in Europe, Asia and America before the start of World War II. Then the swastika could be found everywhere: from various kinds of official documents that had nothing to do with the Nazis, to advertisements for a variety of goods and services.

In Eastern cultures, the swastika symbol has retained its former, positive meaning. They are still adorned with household items; it can be seen on the gates of temples and on the walls of houses.

In Nepal and Tibet, the swastika symbol is, among other things, associated with the local ancient religion Bon-po. In the Bon-po tradition, Mount Kailash is of great importance, which is associated with the sacred "Nine-storey mountain of the swastika", from where the founder of this religion Tonpa Shenrab descended into the world more than 10,000 years ago.

The southern wall of Kailash is "decorated" with a pattern of cracks, in which a swastika twisted counterclockwise is visible. Therefore, adherents of Bon-po depict the swastika in this way, while Buddhists and Hindus more often use an image "swirling" clockwise. Walking around sacred places Buddhists also move clockwise. And the Bon-po adherents go to meet them. It should probably be noted that the Nepalese and Tibetans do not see any negative meaning in the counterclockwise swastika.

British scientist Ian Stewart, a supporter of British neo-Nazis, argued that when deeply moved, the human brain naturally creates swastika-like rotating images. I can't say if the opinion of this scientist can be trusted, but I have heard stories several times that people saw images of swastikas on the Kailash glaciers. True, it is possible that these images were hallucinations caused by oxygen deprivation in high altitude conditions.

At the beginning of my journey along the Great Himalayan Trail in the far west of Nepal, the influence of the ancient Tibetan religion Bon-po is still quite noticeable. A left-handed swastika is usually used here, the same as seen on the southern wall of Kailash. As you move eastward, you will see more and more symbols drawn in the classical Buddhist manner.

It seems that the image of the swastika is hopelessly spoiled by the use of this ancient symbol by the Nazis. It is surprising that the oldest and most positive symbol can be usurped by some people, whose actions will distort its perception so much that it will make its further use completely unacceptable for many millions of people. It is obvious that the symbol that humanity has been using for over 10,000 years will not disappear. But whether it will again become an unconditionally positive sign is still a big question.