|
Hindu
Culture
|
Namaste
|
| Namaste
is the most popular Hindu greeting, performed by pressing the two hands
together and holding them near the heart with the hands together and holding
them near the heart with the head gently bowed as one says "Namaste".
The gesture of holding both hands together is called the Anjala Mudra. There
is a great symbolism behind this greeting. Both hands depict a duality like
the Yin and Yang or positive and negative forces, and bringing the hands
together to a Hindu affirms the singleness or Advaita in the world. The
whole act communicates, "You and I are one. I salute, honour and worship
the God within you." It also means, "I prostrate myself before
you who is the mirror-image of me, with body, mind and soul".
In Sanskrit, the word Namaste means, "to bow in reverential salutation." It means "to you". So Namaste in a nutshell means, "I bow to you". This greeting makes a Hindu remind himself that God is everywhere and in every human being we meet anywhere at any time. |
|
|
|
|