Since ancient times there has been a tradition of holding one’s hands together in prayer. In India, this gesture is known as Namaskar and is offered as a gesture of salutation. There are many names for this particular gesture or salutation – Naman, Pranpiat, Pranam, Namo Namah. All these terms convey honour and humility.
The word 'namaskar' is derived from the root 'namaha,' which means paying obeisance or salutation. In the Hindu Science of Justice (Nyaayashaastra), 'namaha' is a physical action, expressing that 'you are superior to me in all qualities and in every way.' The main objective of doing namaskaar to someone is to derive spiritual as well as worldly benefits.
There is a story in the MAHABHARATA about the awesome power of Namaskar. In the battle between Karna and Arjuna, Karna opened his attack with the Narayana astra, a cosmic weapon. Arjuna did not know how to retaliate. He took refuge in Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna told Arjuna there was no way to destroy the Narayana astra but there was a way to avoid it.
Lord Krishna instructed Arjuna to make the gesture of Namaskar to the weapon, thereby offering salutations to it. Arjuna followed the instructions by falling to the ground and performing a Shashtang Namaskar – a full prostration. Because of Arjuna’s humility, the Narayana astra returned to Karna.
THERE ARE TWO METHODS OF GREETING IN NAMASKAR
Greeter Bends Head a Little
When a person greets another with namaskar, the greeting is accompanied by a slight bow made with hands pressed together, palms touching and fingers pointed upwards and closely positioned in front of the chest. Along with this, the word ‘namaskar’ or ‘namaste’ is said to the person who is being greeted. The hand position is known as the Namaskar Mudra.
Greeter Completely Bows His Head
Some greeters also bow completely in front of a person while greeting to convey they believe in superiority of the soul in the person.
We are all are originally Souls and not bodies. The divinity (Bhagwan/Atma) within us help us remain alive and do Karma. The greeting of Namaskar is when the Soul (atma) in one person acknowledges and pays obeisance to the Soul (atma) in another.
We should ideally Say ‘Namaskar’ when we greet someone and not Namaste. Namaskar has more deeper connection than the word Namaste. Namaskar means greeting a Soul (source of all) while Namaste means greeting the form that is covering the Soul. That is the reason when a person addresses large audience he greets them as Namaskar while when he greets a single person he says Namaste. Though we can use Namaskar even to greet single person.
SPIRITUAL BENEFITS OF NAMASKAR
Increase in humility and the reduction of ego: While doing namaskaar, if one thinks, 'You are superior to me; I am the subordinate; I do not know anything; You are Omniscient,' it helps in reducing the ego and increasing humility.
Enhancement in surrender and gratitude: While doing namaskaar, when thoughts like 'I do not know anything; You alone get everything done; Grant me a place at Your Holy Feet' come to mind, they help in increasing ones surrender and gratitude.
While visiting places of worship and viewing (taking darshan of) the Deities, or while meeting an elderly or respected person, Hindus' hands automatically join in obeisance (namaskaar). Namaskaar is a sattva predominant gesture befitting the rich heritage of the Hindu culture. Namaskaar is a simple and beautiful expression of divine qualities like devotion, love, respect and humility that endows one with Divine energy. Understanding the spiritual science behind a religious act (Dhaarmik kruti) like namaskaar helps in further strengthening the faith in this religious act.
Nowadays, it is common to greet each other with a handshake, especially in the West. It is considered a gesture indicating formality or even warmth. However, some Hindus greet each other by paying obeisance through the namaskar mudra. Here we have explained why namaskar is beneficial spiritually and how the handshake can be detrimental.
Why Joining of Palms Gesture in Namaskar
It was Hinduism that bestowed knowledge to the world that a living body is made up of 5 elements: Water (Jal), Fire (Agni), Earth (Pruthvītattva/Bhumi), Air (Pavan/Marut) and Vacuum (Ākāshtattva/Sunya). Human body is considered as a microcosmo in this cosmic universe. There’s constant and enormous flow of energy within the human body.
Ākāshtattva cannot be harmed, it is endless, it cannot be destructed even when the entire Universe gets destructed to form new creation. Ākāshtattva exists pre-manifestation to post-manifestation. It is always present and most powerful of all elements. By doing the Namaskar Mudra (joining of palms), a greater level of Divine consciousness is absorbed into the body. The person is connected to Ākāshtattva. The concentration of energy increases while uttering the word “Namaskar”, and person is connected to second element that is the Absolute Earth Principle (Pruthvītattva). This is because the mudra by itself is associated with the Absolute Earth Principle. So joining hands relates to Ākāshtattva and uttering Namaskar connects to Pruthvītattva. As both of the elements of energy connects, other elements also starts connecting with the person – Water (Jal), Fire (Agni) and Air (Pavan/Marut). This result in generation of spiritual positivism in the person.
The human body is composed of immense energy. It is up to us to turn it into positive or negative energy. Shaking hands result in transfer of positive or negative energy while Namaskar only result in transfer of positive energy when done with humble human beings. The choice is yours which type of energy you want to absorb.
The word 'namaskar' is derived from the root 'namaha,' which means paying obeisance or salutation. In the Hindu Science of Justice (Nyaayashaastra), 'namaha' is a physical action, expressing that 'you are superior to me in all qualities and in every way.' The main objective of doing namaskaar to someone is to derive spiritual as well as worldly benefits.
There is a story in the MAHABHARATA about the awesome power of Namaskar. In the battle between Karna and Arjuna, Karna opened his attack with the Narayana astra, a cosmic weapon. Arjuna did not know how to retaliate. He took refuge in Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna told Arjuna there was no way to destroy the Narayana astra but there was a way to avoid it.
Lord Krishna instructed Arjuna to make the gesture of Namaskar to the weapon, thereby offering salutations to it. Arjuna followed the instructions by falling to the ground and performing a Shashtang Namaskar – a full prostration. Because of Arjuna’s humility, the Narayana astra returned to Karna.
THERE ARE TWO METHODS OF GREETING IN NAMASKAR
Greeter Bends Head a Little
When a person greets another with namaskar, the greeting is accompanied by a slight bow made with hands pressed together, palms touching and fingers pointed upwards and closely positioned in front of the chest. Along with this, the word ‘namaskar’ or ‘namaste’ is said to the person who is being greeted. The hand position is known as the Namaskar Mudra.
Greeter Completely Bows His Head
Some greeters also bow completely in front of a person while greeting to convey they believe in superiority of the soul in the person.
We are all are originally Souls and not bodies. The divinity (Bhagwan/Atma) within us help us remain alive and do Karma. The greeting of Namaskar is when the Soul (atma) in one person acknowledges and pays obeisance to the Soul (atma) in another.
We should ideally Say ‘Namaskar’ when we greet someone and not Namaste. Namaskar has more deeper connection than the word Namaste. Namaskar means greeting a Soul (source of all) while Namaste means greeting the form that is covering the Soul. That is the reason when a person addresses large audience he greets them as Namaskar while when he greets a single person he says Namaste. Though we can use Namaskar even to greet single person.
SPIRITUAL BENEFITS OF NAMASKAR
Increase in humility and the reduction of ego: While doing namaskaar, if one thinks, 'You are superior to me; I am the subordinate; I do not know anything; You are Omniscient,' it helps in reducing the ego and increasing humility.
Enhancement in surrender and gratitude: While doing namaskaar, when thoughts like 'I do not know anything; You alone get everything done; Grant me a place at Your Holy Feet' come to mind, they help in increasing ones surrender and gratitude.
While visiting places of worship and viewing (taking darshan of) the Deities, or while meeting an elderly or respected person, Hindus' hands automatically join in obeisance (namaskaar). Namaskaar is a sattva predominant gesture befitting the rich heritage of the Hindu culture. Namaskaar is a simple and beautiful expression of divine qualities like devotion, love, respect and humility that endows one with Divine energy. Understanding the spiritual science behind a religious act (Dhaarmik kruti) like namaskaar helps in further strengthening the faith in this religious act.
Nowadays, it is common to greet each other with a handshake, especially in the West. It is considered a gesture indicating formality or even warmth. However, some Hindus greet each other by paying obeisance through the namaskar mudra. Here we have explained why namaskar is beneficial spiritually and how the handshake can be detrimental.
It was Hinduism that bestowed knowledge to the world that a living body is made up of 5 elements: Water (Jal), Fire (Agni), Earth (Pruthvītattva/Bhumi), Air (Pavan/Marut) and Vacuum (Ākāshtattva/Sunya). Human body is considered as a microcosmo in this cosmic universe. There’s constant and enormous flow of energy within the human body.
Ākāshtattva cannot be harmed, it is endless, it cannot be destructed even when the entire Universe gets destructed to form new creation. Ākāshtattva exists pre-manifestation to post-manifestation. It is always present and most powerful of all elements. By doing the Namaskar Mudra (joining of palms), a greater level of Divine consciousness is absorbed into the body. The person is connected to Ākāshtattva. The concentration of energy increases while uttering the word “Namaskar”, and person is connected to second element that is the Absolute Earth Principle (Pruthvītattva). This is because the mudra by itself is associated with the Absolute Earth Principle. So joining hands relates to Ākāshtattva and uttering Namaskar connects to Pruthvītattva. As both of the elements of energy connects, other elements also starts connecting with the person – Water (Jal), Fire (Agni) and Air (Pavan/Marut). This result in generation of spiritual positivism in the person.
The human body is composed of immense energy. It is up to us to turn it into positive or negative energy. Shaking hands result in transfer of positive or negative energy while Namaskar only result in transfer of positive energy when done with humble human beings. The choice is yours which type of energy you want to absorb.
Science Behind Lack of Physical Contact in Namaskar
The Japanese form of greeting – bow and hand wave has origin from Hindu form of Namaskar. Both are non-contact form of greeting. Physical contact enhances the ease of flow of subtle-energies between two people. The flow of energies between two people during handshake (or contactable greetings) is fatal for a positively energized individual, if he shakes hand with a negativity filled pessimistic individual, the gloom from the person is transferred to the positive individual. While in Namaskar as there is no physical contact, the ability for one person to affect another negatively is minimized to larger extent.
There is no greeting of a body but respecting of Soul (atma) is involved in Namaskar. Atma is pious – formless and nothing can effect the immortal, indestructible soul. The impact of negative energies is negligible.
The Japanese form of greeting – bow and hand wave has origin from Hindu form of Namaskar. Both are non-contact form of greeting. Physical contact enhances the ease of flow of subtle-energies between two people. The flow of energies between two people during handshake (or contactable greetings) is fatal for a positively energized individual, if he shakes hand with a negativity filled pessimistic individual, the gloom from the person is transferred to the positive individual. While in Namaskar as there is no physical contact, the ability for one person to affect another negatively is minimized to larger extent.
There is no greeting of a body but respecting of Soul (atma) is involved in Namaskar. Atma is pious – formless and nothing can effect the immortal, indestructible soul. The impact of negative energies is negligible.
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