WHAT’S THE MEANING OF “NAMASTE”?

Maybe you have heard this word more than once in your life, but what’s the real meaning of “Namaste”?

We can surely attested the origins of this word in India at about 3.000 years ago: in fact, “Namaste” is a sanscrit word used in many Asian countries like a typical way of saying hello to someone.

However, in some part of India people used to accompany this word with a specific hands’ gesture that’s also very common in yoga discipline.

Usually, a yogi says it putting hands clasped to the chest, also to say hello and goodbye to his teacher and other students.

We can divide the word into two parts: the first one is “Namas” that means “bow” or “prostrate” and the second one is “Te” that means “to you”. So the literal translation is “I’m bowing to you”: it’s like showing a real respect to someone.

But it’s not only about this.

For Indian people, saying “Namaste” to someone is like recognising the divine part existing in everybody.

 

HOW TO SAY “NAMASTE” TO SOMEONE?

If you want to say “Namaste” in the correct way, with the right position of hands, you need to join your hands in front of the heart putting the inch towards the sternum. Then you need to fold your head a little bit closing your eyes during the movement.

It’s very important that your hands stay very closed each other because that represents the union between your spiritual part and your material part, so just like this you could be a complete human soul.

This concept is well-known as “Anjali”, that many people think is connected to the activation of chakras.

Now, you know what to do when someone says “Namaste” to you. Answer him/her but always thinking about the deep meaning of this ancient word.