Ek Namaste India Wala

I honour the place in you in which the entire universe dwells. I honour the place in you which is of love, of truth, of light, and of peace. When you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, WE ARE ONE! This is the definition of Namaste- the Indian version of greetings. Let’s explore one of the most popular forms of greeting that occupies an integral place not only in India but worldwide.

An Indian culture that extends beyond the Indian boundaries; Image Source: Pinterest

Indian culture, like most of its cities and towns, is a complicated and a chaotic mash-up of numerous rites and customs. But, behind these perplexing traditions and conventions, there is a solid logical foundation that dates back thousands of years. Many of these ancient Indian customs and wisdom contribute to a happy and healthy existence. Namaste — India's customary salutation – has now received its due, transcending language and location. Meanwhile, let us look at the meaning of Namaste or Namaskar and its significance in Indian culture.

Pressing hands together with a smile, the girl greeted Namaste. A unique style of greeting originated from the Indian subcontinent; namaskar or namaskaram holds immense value in Indian culture. While this might just sound like a greeting for most of us, there is an entire history that hides between these palms. Let’s try to uncover the secrets of Namaste- the Indian version of greeting.

While most of us believed that namaskar was just a salutation, it is much more than what we see and know. There is a slight bow in the stance, with hands pushed together, palms contacting, fingers facing upwards, and thumbs near the chest- the welcoming gesture is a distinctive position known as Anjali mudra. Well, you heard it right. Namaskar and Yoga have a connection unknown to us. The standing posture that a person makes could be called pranamasana.

This posture has quite a unique significance in our culture. It has been included in Indian dance forms like Bharatnatyam and various yoga postures. One can also find shreds of evidence of this mudra in mandap-am or entrances of temples and iconography such as Lingobhavamurti of Shaivism.

Formally defining a namaskar would be a Hindu customary, non-contact form of respectfully greeting the other person. Usually found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia among the Indian diaspora, this gesture has gained popularity worldwide. The word namaskar translates to “the divine in me bows to the divine in you.”

The origin of namaskar can be traced back to the era when the Vedas came into existence. One can trace the glorious history of namaskar through the Rigveda, the Atharvaveda, the Taittiriya Samhita, the Aitareya Brahmana, and the Mahabharata. Sounds pretty old and rustic, doesn’t it? Often wrapping synonyms around it like worshipping, adoring, paying homage, or a form of salutation, namaskar also adopts numerous names like Namaskaragalu in Kannada, Kumpitu in Tamil, Dandamu, Dandaalu, Namaskaralu, and Pranamamu in Telugu, Nomoshkar, and Pronam, and in Assamese, Nomoskar.

Apart from traditional texts, one can find references to this greeting in numerous ancient and medieval era sculptures and the mandapas of temples. Several excavations in the Indus Valley Civilization dating back to 3000 BCE, revealed that many female and male terracotta figures were sculpted in namaskar posture.

According to the famous Indologist Stephen Phillips, the ‘te’ in Namaste translates to ‘you.’ Thus, the Namaste is used for somebody who is acquainted, intimate, heavenly, or a kid, rather than an unknown adult.

The Anjali mudra is distinct from Namaste in that it is a nonverbal gesture, whereas Namaste can be stated even without a gesture. According to Bhaumik and Govil, the Anjali mudra and Namaskara mudra are pretty similar yet they slightly vary. In Anjali mudra, the rear of the thumbs face the torso and thus are perpendicular to the other fingers, but in Namaskara mudra, the thumbs are parallel with the other palm.

According to the Natya Shastra, ancient Indian dance literature, it is a position in which the two hands are brought together in a devotional attitude used to bow before a god, receive anybody one reveres, and greet acquaintances. According to the Natya Shastra, the Anjali mudra must be placed near or over one's head for prayers within a temple, next to one's face or chin for meeting someone venerable, and at one's breast for instance.

Namaste is one of the six different types of pranama, and in some areas of India, the two names are used interchangeably. Namaskar is also one of the 16 upacharas used in temples and other official Puja locations (worship). Scholars conclude that Namaste in the setting of god worship serves the same purpose as welcoming a guest or anybody else. It is used to communicate politeness, civility, dignity, and generosity from one person to another.

Since Namaste is a non-contact greeting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recommended using it rather than handshaking during the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic to limit virus spread.

So, the next time you're in India or anywhere else globally, greet each other with a Namaste. This will act like hello and salutation, but it will also protect you from pathogens from unwanted touch!

A sculpture carved in a Namaste posture; Image Source: Wikimedia Commons