Before it became the Nazi symbol of Aryan superiority, the
swastika had several meanings, all positive.
In Sanskrit, the word swastika means
"conducive to well-being." The Aryans of India believed swastikas
represented the sun's motion across the sky, a symbol of its goodness and
regenerative power. The Greeks and Persians believed it represented prosperity
and happiness. Early Christians disguised the cross as a swastika to avoid
persecution. North American Indian tribes used a similar symbol as a sign of
peace. (The Book of Answers, by Barbara Berliner)