Namaste – the Indian way of welcome
A customary Hindu manner of respectfully greeting and honoring a person or group, used at any time of day. Namaste is usually spoken with a slight bow and hands pressed together, palms touching and fingers pointing upwards, thumbs close to the chest. This gesture is called añjali mudrā; the standing posture incorporating it is pranāmāsana. Derived from Sanskrit “Namaste” combines two words : Nama, meaning “bow” or obeisance, “ and te, meaning “to you”. Together, “Namaste” translates to “I bow to you” it also has a spiritual import reflecting the belief that “the divine and self (atman, Self) is same in you and me”, and connotes “I bow to the divine in you” but its essence conveys much more. It signifies respect, acknowledgment, and reverence, extending beyond a simple “hello” to recognize the inherent divinity in all individuals.
Namaste in the context of deity worship, scholars conclude, has the same function as in greeting a guest or anyone else. It expresses politeness, courtesy, honor, and hospitality from one person to the other. It is used in goodbyes as well. Namaste is also considered a non verbal polite gesture either the elder or younger. Since namaste is a non-contact form of greeting, Across the globe, many people adopted the gesture as an alternative to hand shaking during the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic as a means to prevent the spread of the virus. Namaste is a way to bring balance and calm to the mind and body. The pressure points in the fingers that are activated during the gesture are linked to different areas of the brain and can help to balance and center the mind. The gesture promotes a sense of calm and well-being.
Another beautiful interpretation of namaste was Illustrated to our chairman by the famous Vedic scholar and Arya Samaj guru, Dr. Arya Naresh, who asserted that as per Hindu belief when we join & fold our hands pointed upwards to meet or greet anyone with namaste, the thumb are pointing towards your heart wherein the emotional bonding resonate that from the inner core of my heart I bow towards you with my head towards the guest while welcoming as he is considered an apostle of god & is most welcome to my home or my motherland to bless me and in-turn I reciprocate similar good wishes of positivism to shower to the guest and his loved ones.
