Namaste (pronounced "Nam-a-stay") is used as a greeting or upon parting.
Namaste is a composite of the two Sanskrit words, nama, and te. Te means
you, and nama has the following connotations:
     to bend
     to bow
     to sink
     to incline
     to stoop
All these suggestions point to a sense of submitting oneself to another,
with complete humility.
Significantly the word 'nama' has parallels in other ancient languages also.
It is cognate with the Greek nemo, nemos and nosmos; to the Latin nemus, the
Old Saxon niman, and the German neman and nehman.
All these ex-pressions have the general sense of obeisance, homage and veneration.
The word nama is split into two, na and ma. Na signifies negation and ma
represents mine. The meaning would then be 'not mine'.
The import being that the individual soul belongs entirely to the Supreme soul, which

is identified as residing in the individual towards whom the namaste is directed.

Indeed there is nothing that the soul can claim as its own.
Namaste is thus the necessary rejection of 'I' and the associated phenomena
of egotism. It is said that 'ma' in nama means death (spiritual), and when
this is negated (na-ma), it signifies immortality.

In general Namaste can interpret:
'The God in me greets the God in you' or
'The Spirit in me meets the same Spirit in you' or
'I honor the Atma in you as in in me.' There are many other interpretations,
all have the same meaning.

Swami usually turns to devotees, students, teachers, listeners, etc.
"Embodiments of Divine Atma," and "Embodiments of Love," it is principally
the same as "Namaste," or more correctly the ex-pression of meaning the word
"Namaste" by more understandable way.

Translated into a bodily act, yogic practice, greeting and farewell, Namaste
has its complex meaning and symbolism.

     1. In general the gesture (or mudra) of Namaste is performed by
bringing together both palms of the hands before the heart, and lightly
bowing the head. In the simplest of terms it is accepted as a humble
greeting straight from the heart and reciprocated accordingly. (The
following points are more proper explanation of Namaste from different
angles).

     2. The whole action of Namaste unfolds itself at three levels: mental,
physical, and verbal.

     3. Namaste starts with a mental submission. This submission is in the
spirit of total surrender of the self. By performing namaste before an
individual we recognize the divine spark in him. Further by facilitating our
partaking of these divine qualities, namaste makes us aware of these very
characteristics residing within our own selves.

     4. We place the hands together at the heart charka, close the eyes, and
bow the head. It can also be done by placing the hands together in front of
the third eye, bowing the head, and then bringing the hands down to the
heart. This is an especially deep form of respect.

     5. We bring the hands together at the heart chakra to increase the flow
of Divine love. Bowing the head and closing the eyes helps the mind
surrender to the Divine in the heart. One can do Namaste to oneself as a
meditation technique to go deeper inside the heart chakra; when done with
someone else, it is also a beautiful, albeit quick, meditation.

     6. 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 in fact 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. Hence it
signifies that our karma or action must be in harmony, and governed by
rightful knowledge, prompting us to think and act correctly.

     7. 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. It is true for all ancient traditions. Ten is the
number of the Commandments revealed to Moses by God. In the Pythagorean
system, ten was a symbol of the whole of creation. Ancient Chinese thought
too thought of ten as the perfectly balanced number.

     8. Another significant identification of Namaste is with the
institution of marriage, which represents a new beginning, and the
conjoining of the male and female elements in nature. The idea of human
divine association was often expressed in terms of marriage, as in the
description of nuns as "brides of Christ". Thus in the exhaustive marriage
rituals of India, after the elaborate ceremonies have been completed, the
new husband and wife team perform Namaste to each other.

     9. Namaste, which symbolizes the secret of this unity, holds the key to
maintaining the equilibrium of life and entering the area where health,
harmony, peace and happiness are available in plenty.

     10. Namaste allows two individuals to come together energetically to a
place of connection and timelessness, free from the bonds of ego-connection.
If it is done with deep feeling in the heart and with the mind surrendered,
a deep union of spirits can blossom.

     11. Namaste recognizes the equality of all, and pays honor to the
sacredness of all.

     12. Namaste recognizes the duality that has ever existed in this world
and suggests an effort on our part to bring these two forces together,
ultimately leading to a higher unity and non-dual state of Oneness.
Consequently, no sphere of our existence untouched by the symbolic
significance of Namaste.

     13. 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 sonority 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.

     14. In general Namaste is usual for individuals to greet when they meet
each other. It is not only a sign of recognition but also an ex-pression of
happiness at each other's sight. This initial conviviality sets the positive
tone for the further development of a harmonious relationship. In human
society it is an approach mechanism, brimming with social, emotional and
spiritual significance.

     15. It is said also that in Namaste the hands are put together like a
knife so that people may cut through all differences that may exist, and
immediately get to the shared ground that is common to all peoples of all
cultures.

     16. It is interesting to compare Namaste with the 'handshake.' is
Though shaking hands is an extremely intimate gesture, namaste scores over
it in some ways. You do Namaste with God (and not shake hands). It has been
conjectured that both the Namaste and the handshake developed out of a
desire on the part of both the parties to show themselves to be unarmed and
devoid of malicious intention.

     17. As much as Yoga is an exercise to bring all levels of our existence,

including the physical and intellectual, in complete harmony with the rhythms of

nature, the gesture of Namaste is an yoga in itself. Any yogic activity begins

with the performance of this deeply spiritual gesture.

     18. According to Indologist Renov "Meditation depends upon the
relationship between the hands (mudras), the mouth (mantras) and the mind
(yoga)". The performance Namaste is comprised of all these three activities.
It is in essence equivalent to meditation.


Submitted by:

Deepak Balani

Author: Please let me know, if you do (know), so that credit may be given where it is due.