Woman performing namaste gesture. Photo by Steve Evans.

Namasté or Namaskar (नमस्ते [nʌmʌsˈteː] in Nepali and Hindi (from internal sandhi between namaḥ and te) is an Indian greeting or parting phrase as well as a gesture. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 279 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (542 × 1163 pixel, file size: 120 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) South India by Steve Evans. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 279 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (542 × 1163 pixel, file size: 120 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) South India by Steve Evans. ... Nepali (Khaskura) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in Nepal, Bhutan, and some parts of India and Myanmar (Burma). ... Hindi (Devanagari: or , IAST: , IPA: ), an Indo-European language spoken mainly in northern and central India, is one of the official languages of the Union government of India. ... Sandhi is a cover term for a wide variety of phonological processes that occur at morpheme or word boundaries. ... A spoken greeting (often imprecisely called a verbal greeting) is a customary or ritualised word or phrase used to introduce oneself or to greet someone. ... Parting phrases are sentences to show attention or to express friendship or social status between individuals or groups of people parting from each other after a meeting or gathering. ...

Taken literally, it means "I bow to you". The word is derived from Sanskrit (namas): to bow, obeisance, reverential salutation, and (te): "to you" ^[1]. Sanskrit ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... Bow may mean: Look up bow in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A salute is a gesture or other action used to indicate respect. ... Salutation can have several meanings. ...

When spoken to another person, it is commonly accompanied by a slight bow made with hands pressed together, palms touching and fingers pointed upwards, in front of the chest. The gesture can also be performed wordlessly and carry the same meaning.

Uses in South Asian culture

In everyday life, "namaste" is not consciously considered a religious gesture. However, many believe it has a spiritual basis, in recognizing a common divinity within the other person.^[2]

When greeting a peer, a "namaste" with hands in front of chest and a slight bow is considered polite. The gesture is also intensified when a lower-status person performs it for a higher-status person. To indicate deep respect, one may place the hands in front of the forehead, and reverence for a god or the holiest of persons may be indicated by placing the hands completely above the head.^[2]

Namaste is also used as a friendly greeting in written communication

In some parts of India (for example, Punjabi-speaking areas), Namaste is used only to greet Hindus. The proper greeting for Muslims and Sikhs being Assalamu Alaikum and Sat Sri Akaal respectively. Punjabi (also Panjabi; in Gurmukhī, in Shāhmukhī, in transliteration) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Punjabi people in India, Pakistan and other parts of the world. ... This article discusses the adherents of Hinduism. ... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... Religions Sikhism Scriptures Guru Granth Sahib Languages English, Punjabi and Hindi A Sikh ( or ; Punjabi: , , IPA: ) is an adherent to Sikhism. ... Assalamualaikum (السلام عليكم) is an Arabic language greeting used in Muslim cultures. ... Sat Sri Akaal a Punjabi greeting. ...

Symbolism in Hinduism

A sadhu performing namaste in Madurai, India.

The gesture used when bowing in Namaste or Gassho is the bringing of both hands together, palms touching, in front of the person -- usually at the chest, or a higher level such as below the chin, below the nose, or above the head. Image File history File linksMetadata Indian_sadhu_performing_namaste. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Indian_sadhu_performing_namaste. ... In Hinduism, sadhu is a common term for an ascetic or practitioner of yoga (yogi) who has given up pursuit of the first three Hindu goals of life: kama (pleasure), artha (wealth and power) and even dharma (duty). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Several Buddhist terms and concepts lack direct translations into English that cover the breadth of the original term. ...

This gesture is a mudra; a well-recognized symbolic hand position in eastern religions. One hand represents the higher, spiritual nature, while the other represents the worldly self. By combining the two, the person making the gesture is attempting to rise above their differences with others, and connect themself to the person they bow to. The bow is a symbolic bow of love and respect. A mudrā (Sanskrit, मुद्रा, literally seal) is a symbolic gesture usually made with the hand or fingers. ...

Particularly in Hinduism, when one worships or bows in reverence, the symbolism of the two palms touching is of great significance. It is the joining together of two extremities -- the feet of the Divine, with the head of the devotee. The right palm denotes the feet of the Divine and the left palm denotes the head of the devotee. The Divine feet constitute the ultimate solace for all sorrows -- this is a time-honoured thought that runs through the entire religious ethos. Hinduism (known as in some modern Indian languages[1]) is a religion that originated on the Indian subcontinent. ...

Similar gestures around the world

Gassho is the term used in Japanese contexts for the same hand-gesture, and is used in a Buddhist context. Japanese culture bows from the waist in a secular context, but in a Buddhist context uses gassho. In Chinese speaking places, the term 合十 (Mandarin: héshí; Cantonese: hahp- sahp-) is used. In Thailand, the gesture is known as ไหว้ wai (pronounced "why" with a falling tone). Contents: Top - A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Several Buddhist terms and concepts lack direct translations into English that cover the breadth of the original term. ... Contents: Top - A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Several Buddhist terms and concepts lack direct translations into English that cover the breadth of the original term. ... The Thai greeting referred to as the wai (Thai: ไหว้) Or in Lao as Kub consists of a slight bow, with the palms pressed together in a prayer-like fashion. ...

In other parts of India, there are other ways to greet someone. For example, in Gujurat, people greet each other by saying, "Khem Cho," and responding with "Majama," or great.

Meanings in Western culture

Namaste is one of the few Sanskrit words commonly recognized by English speakers. In the West, it is often used to indicate South Asian culture in general. "Namaste" is particularly associated with aspects of South Asian culture such as vegetarianism, yoga, ayurvedic healing or Hinduism. A handcoloured engraving of Brahma This is a list of English words of Sanskrit origin. ... Vegetarianism is the practice of not consuming the flesh of any animal (including sea animals) with or without also eschewing other animal derivatives, such as dairy products or eggs[1]. Some vegetarians choose to also refrain from wearing clothing that has involved the death of animals, such as leather, silk... Statue of Shiva performing Yogic meditation Yoga (Devanagari: योग) is a Sanskrit word that has a wide range of different meanings. ... Ayurveda (आयुर्वेद Sanskrit: ayu—life; veda—knowledge of) or ayurvedic medicine is a more than 2,000 year old comprehensive system of medicine based on a holistic approach rooted in Vedic culture. ... Hinduism (known as in some modern Indian languages[1]) is a religion that originated on the Indian subcontinent. ...

Westerners who learn about "namaste" from yoga often believe that the word is part of yogic practice, and that it has a multitude of very complicated and poetic meanings. Some examples:

• "I honor the Spirit in you which is also in me". -- attributed to author Deepak Chopra^{[citation needed]}
• "I honor the place in you in which the entire Universe dwells, I honor 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." ^[3]
• "I salute the God within you." ^[3]
• “I recognize that we are all equal.” ^[4]
• “The entire universe resides within you.” ^[4]
• “The divine light in me salutes the divine light in you.” ^[4]
• "Your spirit and my spirit are ONE." -- attributed to Lilias Folan's shared teachings from her journeys to India

Grow Younger, Live Longer, 2001 Deepak Chopra (Hindi: दीपक चोपड़ा; born October 22, 1946) is an Indian medical doctor and writer. ...

See also

• Anjali
• Hindu
• Buddhism
• Greetings

Anjali might refer to: the Sanskrit word for divine offering, which is also used as a female given name. ... This article discusses the adherents of Hinduism. ... This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... A spoken greeting (often imprecisely called a verbal greeting) is a customary or ritualised word or phrase used to introduce oneself or to greet someone. ...

External links

• Namaste: Ancient Sanskrit Blessing photo tutorial at About.com

References