This is was known as a "svastika." It was a Sanskrit symbol meaning "
peace" and "good-fortune," used primarily in Indian ideologies, but has since been seen differently. It is now known as a "swastika." A swastika on a red flag with a white circle behind it is the swastika most
people know of today, because of
Hitler's famous Holocaust. If shown to a person who believes in Judaism, they
may take offense when seeing it, as the Holocaust involved Hitler's failed purge of the Jews. However, it is becoming more popular as a joke, rather than an offensive symbol, these days.
Bhikkhu (Buddhist Priest): *On a held sign* 卍
Love and prosperity to all! 卍
Jew (Who does not know past Hitler's swastika): Come on man, take that sign down. That is a swastika you damn Nazi!
Bhikkhu: No "man," this is a svastika, from ancient Sanskrit, it means "peace" and "good-fortune."
Jew: Not in my damn religion.
