Appia K
Greetings vary in each culture, region, tribe and tradition. Something that most of us have overlooked is the simple way that we were taught to greet each other.
Namaste!
Namaste
Namaste is not our casual ‘hey, what’s up?’ It is not a simple, Hello, Good morning or Hi. Bonjour, Hola, Shalom are different ways of greeting people, but coming back to our roots, Namaste is a greeting used by so many people all over the world and not only by Indians. It is not only a salutation, but also an expression of spirituality.
When saluted to another person, Namaste is accompanied by a slight bow, pressing hands together, and palms touching with fingers pointing upwards in front of the heart. The gesture, done by itself, without words carries with it the same meaning.
There are many versions to what the phrase Namaste literally means. Here’s a few-
The word nama is split into two, na and ma. Na signifies negation and ma represents mine. The meaning is therefore “not mine.” The significance of this is the implication that the individual soul belongs entirely to the Supreme soul, which is identified as residing in the individual towards whom the namaste is directed. There is nothing that the soul can claim as its own. Namaste is thus the rejection of “I” and the associated phenomena of egotism.
The action of namaste unfolds itself at three levels: mental, physical and verbal. It starts with a mental submission. This submission implies a total surrender of the self. By performing namaste before an individual we recognize the divine spark in him. Acknowledging divine qualities in another, namaste makes us aware of these very characteristics residing within our own self. Simply put, namaste means “The God in me greets the God in you.” In other words, it recognizes the equality of all, and pays honor to the sacredness of all.
Translated into a bodily act, namaste is rich in symbolism. The proper performance of namaste requires that we blend the five fingers of the left hand exactly with the fingers of the right hand. The significance behind this simple act governs the entire gamut of our active life. The five fingers of the left hand represent the five senses of karma, and those of the right hand the five organs of knowledge. Thus, it signifies that our karma or action must be in harmony, and governed by rightful knowledge, prompting us to think and act correctly.
By combining the five fingers of each hand, a total of ten is achieved. The number ten is a symbol of perfection, and the mystical number of completion and unity.
The gesture of namaste is unique in the sense that its physical performance is accompanied by a verbal utterance of the word “namaste.” This practice is equivalent to the chanting of a mantra. The resonance of the sacred sound “namaste” is believed to have a quasi-magical value, corresponding to a creative energy change. This transformation is that of aligning oneself in harmony with the vibration of the cosmos itself, a magical mystical feat indeed!
The next time someone greets you with a smile and a namaste, know that they greet you with their soul. With honor and respect, return their greeting.
Till next time, in peace
Namaste
