Sanskrit is a sacred language. It is the principal liturgical language of Hinduism. It is also considered a philosophical language for Buddhism and Jainism. In fact, linguists consider it a perfect and complete idiom from a grammatical point of view.
The word comes from the ancient Sanskrit language and has its remote origin in the Hindu culture.
Here are 10 meanings of the word Namaste that you probably didn’t know.
1- The term “Namas” means “greeting” or “reverence”. The suffix “te” means “you.” Namaste means “I greet you” or “I bow to you,”
2- It’s a daily greeting in India and Nepal. Despite its age and sacred origin, Hindus use the word as a form of greeting and farewell, to say thank you and respect.
3- In a more spiritual translation, the meaning of the word could be “The divine within me greets the divine within you,” or “The Spirit within me honors and respects yours”.
4- The word “spirit” or “the divine” does not have a religious meaning, but instead refers to our essence. We could replace it with heart, soul, or any other word that is closer to this explanation.
5- Namaste represents the belief of a spark of divinity or components that transcend our body and mind within each one of us. In this case, making the gesture manifests the greeting of one soul to another.
6- When you say “Namaste” it is usually accompanied by a gesture that is considered a “mudra” or a symbolic position of the hands. This mudra consists of bringing your palms together at the center of your chest in the prayer position, tilting your head slightly forward, and closing your eyes. The hands are placed in front of the chest, as this is where we have the heart chakra.
7- For Hinduism, this position of the hands represents the divine: the right palm symbolizes the sole of God’s feet, and the left one the head of the one who prays.
In other religious contexts… The person who makes the gesture of joining the two palms eliminates their differences with the person they are revering and creates a connection. The right hand represents the higher nature (deep, spiritual), while the left hand symbolizes the ego (the mundane).
8- In the west, the word is used in conjunction with the gesture. However, in India, the same gesture means “Namaste“. It is not necessary to say the word while bowing the head.
9- It is a symbolic indication of respect when you bow the head. And it is universally recognized in many other cultures.
10- At the beginning of Hatha Yoga, you hear the word Namaste. Also in the end and during the class. Teachers usually say it to feel grateful and relax the body. This is to create a connection between the mind, our center, and the earth.
The deep meaning of “Namaste” is truly relevant. Since it’s “the best part of me, wishes the best to the deepest part of you.”