Nazis. It's more well known, at least in the states, to represent them.

When I see the swastika I think of Hinduism because that is my religion, so it is natural to think of the swastika in that way. One thing I hate is when I am drawing it, and others think that I am Nazi.

Hindu

I think of the sun and good luck because that is what the symbol originally stood for. I have two tattoos on my ankle that look like this (See picture) And I have seen people look at me like I'm some evil person because they are too ignorant to actually see or ask what it is. It is an ancient symbol for the sun. There was a really good answer to a similar question posted a while ago. http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/23773

It depends on what else I see with it ... if all I see is the symbol, then I am first reminded of Hindus, then the fact that Buddha was once Bengali Prince Sidhattha Gottamma and Buddhism may sometimes also have a swastika ... then I remember the nazis. If I see a neo-nazi person displaying the symbol, I think nazis first, then Hindu, then Buddhist. Why - the Tibetan style of Wing Chun I studied, and now teach (mixed with Ninjitsu & Tai Chi), had a lot of Hindu and Buddhist influence (as well as Chinese) as it was being develloped. Since I was born in the 1950s, I missed the 2nd World War, so nazis are not something I had to personally endure, so I seldom think of them ... unless I see some of the neo-nazis. ... I also sometimes think of the many different styles of "Shuriken" ... some resemble the swastika ... .

Nazis I guess. The symbol is associated more with Nazis and Hitler where I am.

Nazis.

The swastika (from Sanskrit svástika स्वास्तिक ) is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing or left-facing forms. The term is derived from Sanskrit svasti, meaning well-being. The Thai greeting sawasdee is from the same root, carrying the same implication. It is a widely-used symbol in Dharmic religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism). Hindus often decorate the swastika with a dot in each quadrant. In India, it is common enough to be a part of several Devanagari fonts. It is also a symbol in the modern unicode. It is often imprinted on religious texts, marriage invitations, decorations etc. It is used to mark religious flags in Jainism and to mark Buddhist temples in Asia. Archaeological evidence of swastika shaped ornaments goes back to the Neolithic period. In 1920 the swastika was appropriated as a Nazi symbol, and has since then become a controversial motif as a consequence. In the Western world, it is this usage as a symbol of Nazism that is most familiar, and this political association has largely eclipsed its historical status in the East. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika The symbol was around long before Adolf Hitler. The swastika is a cross with its arms bent at right angles to either the right or left. In geometric terms, it is known as an irregular icosagon or 20-sided polygon. The word is derived from the Sanskrit "svastika" and means "good to be". In Indo-European culture it was a mark made on people or objects to give them good luck. It has been around for thousands of years, particularly as a Hindu symbol in the holy texts, to mean luck, Brahma or samsara (rebirth). The Hindu version is a mirror image of the Nazi symbol. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4183467.stm Cosmology and the Swastika: `Swastika', a Sanskrit word, means literally `well being' which has many variables depending upon the application. As the serpent is the symbol of the creative, energizing force of the Supreme Spirit, the swastika is representative of that life-force being set in motion to initiate the cyclic workings of nature. Both images are thus closely inter-related. The ancient Vedic seers described the original cosmic creative process as `the churning of the milky ocean' whereby fields of subtle substance become condensed into gross matter; a view that is now widely accepted today in energy-field physics research. http://www.indiaprofile.com/religion-culture/swastika.htm

Nazis because I'm jewish.

I think of Hinduism,because that is where it originated and since I studied it allot that is what comes to mind automatically.

Sadly, Nazis. For years I never knew that it represented anything else. Thank goodness I've expanded my horizons since then, but it's 'programmed' in my head. I'm working on it. :-)

I immediately think of the Nazi's and then I think that the swastika wasn't only the Nazis and I wonder what else it pertains to.

Until this question, I never knew it was anything other than a Nazi symbol. I think it's really sad that something that is meant to be so nice and peaceful is associated with one of the worst events in history.

nazis because of the movies i've watched

Nazis.

remember the symbol also has a place in the AmeriInd cultures of the southwest as well. I'd be curious exactly how far back that emblem goes.

well actually i think of hitler. But i guess he is a nazis,so nazis would be my answer.

The Hindu swastika is different from the Nazi swastika, so I guess it depends which one I'm looking at.

hindus because i've been brought as a hindu.

Yeah. I know it's a very modern association for an a very ancient very positive symbol of luck. Even so, I think it would be in very bad taste to wish someone luck and hand them a swastika! :P

no, i associate it with hinduism

Even though I know that it's an ancient symbol that had nothing to do with Nazism I'm afraid I think of Nazis.

Of course I do. I do know that the symbol has other origins, but Nazism is such a major part of Western history I don't know how anyone could honestly not associate it with the Nazis.

Yes, even though, as an expert in balinese hinduism, I know that originally it was a hindu symbol. The association with Hitler is very deep in western society.

Aye.. indeed. Even though the "Iron Cross" predates the Nazis tis often used as their symbol and used by no other.

1) Yes, unfortunately, I would more think first of nazis. But I also know that it is a very ancient symbol, which existed many centuries before nazism. If I find a swastika on some ancient art representation, I know that these people had not heard of nazism. I am not sure about this, but I think that in India, the old swastika symbolism could be at least as strong as the modern association with Nazism. 2) "The swastika (from Sanskrit svástika स्वास्तिक ) is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either clockwise-pointing or anticlockwise-pointing forms. The term is derived from Sanskrit svasti, meaning well-being. The Thai greeting sawasdee is from the same root and carries the same implication. Archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates from the Neolithic period. It has long been widely-used in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Hindus often decorate the swastika with a dot in each quadrant. In India, it is common enough to be a part of several Devanagari fonts. It is also a symbol in the modern Unicode and is often imprinted on religious texts, marriage invitations, and decorations. It is used to mark religious flags in Jainism and Buddhist temples in Asia. In 1920, the right-facing swastika was appropriated as a Nazi symbol, and since then has become a controversial motif. In the Western world, this usage is the most familiar. The symbol occurs in other Asian, European, African and Native American cultures – sometimes as a geometrical motif and sometimes as a religious symbol." Source and further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika 3) "Microsoft`s Font Foibles PC Magazine , February, 2004 by Sebastian Rupley Microsoft is facing some questions about political correctness and fonts this week following the release of a critical Windows update that also happens to include a font removal tool. At issue is Microsoft`s decision to remove two swastikas and the Star of David from its Bookshelf Symbol 7 font. Microsoft officials characterized the presence of the swastikas as "an unintentional oversight." The company has confirmed that some users became upset at the presence of the swastikas. The Bookshelf Symbol 7 font removal tool is available online and is part of a critical update to Windows which went out this week. The explanation for posting the tool says "this font has been found to contain unacceptable symbols." The removal tool specifically removes the Bssym7.ttf font that is included in Microsoft Office 2003. Microsoft also released an open letter explaining its decision to release the font removal tool, which says the impetus was the presence of "two swastikas" within the font set, and implies that some users had become upset. The statement came on Thursday from senior vice president of Microsoft Office, Steven Sinofsky, and the text is as follows: "Microsoft has learned of a mistake in the Bookshelf Symbol 7 font included in the Microsoft Office System client applications. Due to an unintentional oversight, we failed to identify, prior to the release, the presence of two swastikas within the font. We apologize for this and for any offense caused. Microsoft is taking immediate measures to remedy the issue for all customers." Source: http://www.fontsviewer.com/catalog/font_f9%5B19170%5D.html

Yes, even though I know it predates Nazism. It will now always be a very unpleasant symbol for most people.

Yes, I do. Even though I'm aware of it being used otherwise.

I know the history as well, but it was so co-opted by the Nazi's and used in their propaganda that it is one mark rather indelibly left on the psyche of the western world. I was born in 1955 and the memories of WWII and the Holocaust were a part of the landscape of our every day life as our parents recounted their horrors. I could never look at that symbol and not think of the atrocities perpetrated under its banner. Writing the above paragraph gave me cause for sadness and a disquieting spirit within as I realized that victims of the Inquisition and every other institutionalized injustice perpetrated erroneously in the name of Christianity have reason to view the cross that way. How a symbol of love and sacrifice could become a sign of aggression and conquest is beyond me. I am sure that those who have used the swastika legitimately have felt violated as well.

Sadly I do ...When i see a young man with a tattoo of a swastika I think to myself that poor guy nobody loves him

I`m a Russian woman, living in Russia, and of course swastika in my country is connected with the second world war and with Nazis.During thar war about 27 millon of people were kiiled. Only much motr later I knew that the swastika was from India.

Nazis. Sorry. No-one ever tells us in school where they got the symbol, really, so I'm sure a lot of americans don't even know its roots. That said, when it's properly squared off instead of tilted, and it's in that context, I'll go with hindu the split second after i think Nazi.

Nazi bullshit. Plain and simple just like those Jim Crow Laws.

I think both. I knew both from an early age. I was very interested in Nazism (from a historical and anti point of view I hasten to add!) and found out early where it came from.

In downtown Detriot one of the most promenent buildings is the Fisher building. I think it was built in the late 1920's. One day as I was walking by I happened to look up and I was shocked to see the entire second floor facade covered with swastikas. For a second I thought that Hittler must have been the architect. Then with a little help from the library I found out that Hittler stold the symbol from the Hindi. For the Hindi it was a symbol of a meaningful life. Hittler flipped it over so that the up-right arms were just the opposite and of course the symbol became synonymous with pure evil. Now when I see a swastika I wonder if people know that it once was asymbol for all that was good.

None of the above, i think of little neo nazi punks at my school that get their ass's collectively kicked on an almost daily basis.

I think of Jains.

I generally think Nazi cos I collect WWII relics and a lot of the German ones have swasticas on them. Another reason is cos I'm of Jewish heritage (and German too incidentally) and have family members that died in the concentration camps, including Auschwitz- Birkenau. At the exact same time I also think Hinduism cos that is where it came from and with me being that interested in cultural history I think that remembering these sorts of things is important. I dunno if I neccessarily answered the question cos I think both but that's what I think.

Hindus but it is regrettable that Hitler hi-jacked a symbol of peace and good luck,. For most of the world I am sure it would be Nazi.

Nazi's. I don't really know why.

No doubt the Nazi's and the world events that they caused. I know the history of the symbol, but when the symbol was used for such immense trouble in the history of world events it is hard not to think of that first.

i actually think of native americans. i remember my aunt had a blanket that had some of them on there and i asked my cousin why they had a hitler blanket [i was a little girl] and they told me they got it from when they lived on the indian reservation or something like that, and that hitler stole a sign of universal peace, so the swastika didn't mean anything along the lines of racism at all

The swastika is an ancient symbol that has been used for over 3,000 years. (That even predates the ancient Egyptian symbol, the Ankh!) Artifacts such as pottery and coins from ancient Troy show that the swastika was a commonly used symbol as far back as 1000 BCE. During the following thousand years, the image of the swastika was used by many cultures around the world, including in China, Japan, India, and southern Europe. By the Middle Ages, the swastika was a well known, if not commonly used, symbol but was called by many different names. I myself view all symbols as "neutral", and it is the "intent" of the individuals using them that determines their positive or negative representation...

Nazis (November Alpha Zebra Indigo Sarah).

well unfortunately nazis, although I believe the hindus have used it origignally, pity the nazi party stuffed that one up really

Nazis, of course, for the Hindus were never that popular! Hail Hitler! (hopes no one takes me seriously)

interesting site http://history1900s.about.com/cs/swastika/a/swastikahistory.htm I think of the Nazis, but as I live in the Southwest, I can also associate the swastika with the Navajos and Hopis. This is from Wikipedia Native American traditions Native American basketball team in 1909.The swastika shape was used by some Native Americans. It has been found in excavations of Mississippian-era sites in the Ohio valley. It was widely used by many southwestern tribes, most notably the Navajo. Among various tribes, the swastika carried different meanings. To the Hopi it represented the wandering Hopi clan; to the Navajo it was one symbol for a whirling winds (tsil no'oli'), a sacred image representing a legend that was used in healing rituals (after learning of the Nazi mimic "whirling winds" the Navajo rejected the symbol).[

The world is busy pounding the Nazi regime into our head instead of the Hindu version. So naturally, the most reacurring theme is what I'll remember.

Nazis...growing up that's the symbol we were taught was associated with Hitler.

I'm afraid that the Nazis come to mind first due to the horror of the Holocaust. I wish the symbol and not been used by the Nazis, then we would all think of the Hindus.

I think of us Japanese, since I starred in a movie "Manji Mai 2" that means "Swastika Dance 2". It is a symbol of a temple and good luck.

i never see them

i never see them around

No am not of this things bit i am fan of wwe and like watching entertainment videos. I am very good in understanding the emotions of others easily also pretty wonderful in mathematics also. This is not a spam it is a curiosity, just i have the spirit of genius so i talk about many things even they are not asked yet. The most strange fact about me is that i am not a nerd , i grow up in the hood , in the streets. I have musculus body that makes my personality weird. People called me the thug of science. I say to them really what about nerd of the hood , huh it does not make sense. But oh ya it is quite fantastic answer is'n it. Give thumps up people and have fun with thug and science. All the best possible probability of best luck .

If it revolves to the right, Hindus. If it revolves to the left, Nazi. Why? Because I'm not an idiot, and able to grasp the concept of 'mirror image'.

As most people do, I think of Nazis. But their thinking revolves around what they've been taught to believe (as was mentioned in a couple of answers) and not what is factual. The design of the Nazi swastika had nothing to do with the Jews - or "evil" either, for that matter. It was designed in the early 1920s during a time when Communism threatened to take over Germany while it was at its weakest point from the reparations of the Versailles Treaty. Hitler's rise to power was to protect Germany from Communism - the swastika was designed specifically to invoke fear into the hearts of the Communist. It was only after Zionism declared war on Germany in 1933 and the other allied nations threw their support in that direction that the propaganda surrounding the Nazi flag began.

Nazis, because of the history of WW2.

Usually the nazis. However, we have an old basket that one of my ancestors made that has that pattern woven into it. When I see that on baskets or pottery. I don't think about nazis.

Nazis