Namaste

rr4 · 2016-03-01T17:49:25+00:00

‘Namaste’ or ‘namaskar’ is the Indian way of greeting each other. Wherever they are – on the street, in the house, in public transport, on vacation or on the phone – when Hindus meet people they know or strangers with whom they want to initiate a conversation, namaste is the customary courtesy greeting to begin with and often to end with. It is not a superficial gesture or a mere word and is for all people - young and old, friends and strangers. Namaste According to the Scriptures Namaste and its common variants ‘namaskar,’ ‘namaskaara’ or ‘namaskaram’, is one of the various forms of formal traditional greeting mentioned in the Vedas. This is normally understood as prostration but it actually refers to paying homage or showing respect to one another, as is the practice today, when we greet each other. The Meaning of Namaste In Sanskrit the word is namah + te = namaste which means “I bow to you” - my greetings, salutations or prostration to you. The word ‘namaha’ can also be literally interpreted as "na ma" (not mine). It has a spiritual significance of negating or reducing one's ego in the presence of another. In Kannada, it is called Namaskara and Namaskaragalu; in Tamil, Kumpiṭu; in Telugu, Dandamu, Dandaalu, Namaskaralu and Pranamamu; in Bengali, Nōmōshkar and Prōnäm; and in Assamese, Nômôskar. How to Namaste Bend the arms from the elbow upwards and face the two palms of the hands. Place the two palms together and keep the folded palms in front of the chest. Utter the word namaste and while saying the word bow the head slightly. Why Namaste? Namaste could be just a casual or formal greeting, a cultural convention or an act of worship. However, there is much more to it than meets the eye. The real meeting between people is the meeting of their minds. When we greet one another with namaste, it means, ‘may our minds meet’, indicated by the folded palms placed before the chest. The bowing down of the head is a gracious form of extending friendship in love, respect, and humility. Spiritual Significance of Namaste The reason why we do namaste has a deeper spiritual significance. It recognizes the belief that the life force, the divinity, the Self or the God in me is the same in all. Acknowledging this oneness with the meeting of the palms, we honor the god in the person we meet. Namaste in Prayers During prayers, Hindus not only do namaste but also bow and close their eyes, as it were, to look into the inner spirit. This physical gesture is sometimes accompanied by names of gods like ‘Ram Ram’, ‘Jai Shri Krishna’, ‘Namo Narayana’, ‘Jai Siya Ram’ or just ‘Om Shanti’ – the common refrain in Hindu chants. This is also quite common when two devout Hindus meet - indicating the recognition of the divinity within ourselves and extending a warm welcome to each other. Difference Between Namaskar and Pranama Pranama (Sanskrit 'Pra' + 'Anama') is a respectful salutation for Hindus which literally means "bowing forward" in reverence for a deity or an elder. Namaskar is one of the 6 types of Pranamas: Ashtanga (Ashta=eight; Anga=body parts) which involves touching the ground with knees, belly, chest, hands, elbows, chin, nose and temple. Shastanga (Shashta=six; Anga=body parts) which involves touching the ground with toes, knees, hands, chin, nose and temple. Panchanga (Pancha=five; Anga=body parts) which involves touching the ground with knees, chest, chin, temple and forehead. Dandavat (Dand=stick) which involves bowing the forehead down and touching the ground. Abhinandana (Congratulations to you) which involves bending forward with folded hands touching the chest. Namaskar (Bowing to you) which is the same as doing a Namaste with folded hands and touching the forehead.

Thread starter rr4
Start date Mar 1, 2016

rr4

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Namaste

rr4

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