Before the swastika was adopted as a symbol by Nazi Germany and gained all the hateful connotations it has today, it was a positive symbol that was used by many cultures around the world, including China (where it was called wan or sauvastika if turned counterclockwise), Japan, India (where it was called the swastika), and southern Europe.

The word "swastika" comes from the Sanskrit svastika - "su" meaning "good," "asti" meaning "to be," and "ka" as a suffix. The first known examples come from the Indus Valley civilisation and predate even the ancient Egyptian symbol, the Ankh. Throughout its history across widely diverse cultures it was a symbol represented life, sun, power, strength and good luck, even up to the early 20th century. In India the right-hand swastika (as opposed to the Nazi left-hand version!) is still the specific emblem of Ganesha, the Hindu elephant-god of good luck.

More interesting information here: Swastikam: Symbol of Auspiciousness