Namaskar, in its more formal avatar, is called as 'Namaskaram' and in less formal manner is referred to as 'Namaste'. They all refer to the form of salutation in Hinduism either for paying respect to others or showing reverence to god. Its is mostly done by joining both hands. This process of joining hands is synchronized with the gesture of lowering the head and bending the upper portion of the body.
Now lets delve deeper into the meaning of Namaskar.
Meaning of Namaskar
Origin and the meaning of the word ‘Namaskar’ : 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.
Worldly benefits: By doing namaskar to a Deity or a Saint,unknowingly, their virtues and capabilities are impressed upon our mind. Consequently,we start emulating them, thus changing ourselves for the better.
Symbolism
Namaskar has a deeper symbolic significance in Hinduism. The two hands, joined together in reverence, serve as the meeting point between the subject and object, God and his devotee, and reality and illusion. The two hands represent the duality, or the pairs of opposites, which are common to our world. By joining them, you join your mind and body, you body and soul, your soul and God, Nature and Self, attraction and aversion, and all the dualities of your mind as an offering to God.
On the other side of your hands, towards the deity, is the transcendental reality (para) or the divinity, and this side, towards yourself,is the physical reality (apara), your body or the field of Nature. In between the two, bridging them, is your devotional offering, your salutation and declaration of faith. By putting the hands together before God, you unite the God (Brahman) in front of you with the deity (Atman) in your heart. At the same time, with those joined hands you are not only saluting the Supreme Being in front of you, but also the deity (Self), who is situated in you.
Spiritual Benefits
· Increase in humility and the reduction of ego : While doing namaskar, 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 namaskar, 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.
· Among the various postures used for paying obeisance, we receive the highest amount of sattva component from the posture (mudraa) of namaskar, recommended by Hindu Dharma.
· By doing namaskar to Deities or Saints we receive the subtle frequencies they emit, for example, the frequencies of sattva or Bliss.
Worldly Benefits
· By doing Namaskar to a deity or a Saint,unknowingly their virtues and capabilities are impressed upon our minds.Consequently we start emulating them, thus changing ourselves for the better.
How does one do Namaskar to an individual of the same age group?
When meeting someone of the same age-group, do Namaskar by joining the fingers and placing tips of the thumbs on the Anahat chakra (at the center of the chest). This type of Namaskar increases the spiritual emotion of humility in the embodied soul. Sattva frequencies from the universe are attracted by the fingers (which act as an antenna) and are then transmitted to the entire body through the thumbs which have awakened the Anahat chakra. This activates the soul energy of the embodied soul. In addition, by doing Namaskar in this manner to each other, frequencies of blessings are also transmitted.