what does it mean to say namaste

Many who grew up in Hindu or Nepalese cultures, while taught as children to say namaste to their elders as a respectful hello, have a similar relationship to the word. ARVIND KHETIA, Hindu and an engineer: “Namaste” is a Sanskrit word and the common expression of greeting in Hinduism. The teacher will call Namaste as a symbol of gratitude and respect for the students at the end of the class, and most students will repeat Namaste back as a means to thank the teacher, rather than using it as a greeting. It has a more profound spiritual Namaste meaning in Hinduism. What does it mean to say namaste. The word namaḥ takes the sandhi form namas before the sound te.. Namaste helps to set the context of yoga when teachers say Namaste at the end of yoga class, it means the teacher respects the divine power in the participants. The Meaning Of Namaste. Namaste—and its common variants namaskar, namaskaara, and namaskaram —is one of the various forms of formal traditional greeting mentioned in the Vedas. Namaste is a traditional Hindu greeting said with a hand gesture in which the palms are pressed together at the chest or head, accompanied by a slight bow or arm raise. The literal translation of this Sanskrit word is I bow to you. and then say Namaste. So when they greet you with namaste they are seeking your blessings. It also has a spiritual meaning that the divine energy/ the law of karma or Almighty whatever you can say/see in the other human is the manifest of God and consider that the same God also resides in your heart. There are two popular ways to say Namaste. This is the practice today when we greet each other. This gesture is also associated with the Brow Chakra, i.e. Name means “bow,” té means “to you,” and the "s" connects the words. It can be considered as a legacy that has been passed down since generations via the holy scriptures – the “Sutras” and is comparable to other sacred texts such as the ‘Quran’ or the ‘Bible’. In the western part of the world, the word namaste is commonly spoken aloud while a person is bowing. In the West, it is commonly associated with yoga, and uses of namaste in this context is sometimes accused of being a form of cultural appropriation. Namaste!” in which you ended the namaste with your hand in prayer position at your chest. The word namaste, pronounced “NUHM-uh-stay,” is a Sanskrit phrase formed from namah, meaning, “adoration, bow” and the pronoun te meaning, “to you.” According to the Webster dictionary, the noun namah is a derivative of the verb namati, which means, “he or she bends, or bows.” It literally translates to, “I bow to you.” It is a common Hindu/Indian greeting. Although this is normally understood to mean prostration, it actually is the means of paying homage or showing respect to one another. This is an especially deep form of respect. Namaste is a Sanskrit phrase. In India, it is understood that the gesture itself signifies Namaste, and therefore, it is unnecessary to say the word while bowing. A more traditional way is to place your hands together near your chest, close your eyes, bow a little (not like the Japanese!) The Sanskrit phrase namaste is formed from namaḥ, meaning “bow, obeisance, adoration,” and the enclitic pronoun te, meaning “to you.”The noun namaḥ, in turn, is a derivative of the verb namati, which means “(she or he) bends, bows.”. Answer: The word namaste, pronounced “NUHM-uh-stay,” is a common Hindu/Indian greeting often used in conjunction with a small bow and with the palms of one’s hands placed together, fingers up, in front of the chest. How… “Namaste” is a combination of words derived from Sanskrit that mean “I bow to you.” It is a noncontact form of greeting, as opposed to hugging or shaking hands. In India, many regard Namaste as a colloquial salutation, a simple way to say hello and offer well wishes. When performing the Namaste salutation, you merely recognize that there is a divine entity in every person. It combines the word namaḥ, which means to bow or bend, with -te, which means to you. Most agreed that the word expressed the gratitude they felt to their teacher, gave the class closure, was sometimes just an expression of relief, but also was a conduit to somethin… The way you interpret the definition is however you see fit. Well the word namaste is formed from 2 words, namaha and te... Namaha means bow and te is you, and there is a grammatical sandhi happening when namaha and te fuse resulting in nama - s - te. Namaste is a practice in yoga done at the beginning and the end of the yoga class. Otherwise, it’s as if you proclaim to really like someone while maintaining a poker face. The spiritual meaning of Namaste refers to connecting to the Divine spirit or light in each person you meet and honoring that within them. Since Namaste literally means “bowing to you”, it’s a good idea to do just that. Namaste is a Sanskrit phrase combining two phrases to mean “I bow to you” or “The divine in me bows to the divine in you.”It is a common Hindu/Indian In Hinduism, Namaste is a respectful greeting when giving namaskar and means “I bow to the divine in you”. What Does Namaste In Yoga Mean? It is performed to create a positive vibration between the teacher (or the guru) and the students. Namaste means that "I bow to the divine in you." This is why Namaste is commonly translated as “the light in me bows to the same light within you.” Often, you will hear this in … Namaste is a sign of respect and acknowledgment that … But, what does Namaste mean? When put together, the official namaste definition is (he/she) bows to you. From youngsters to elders and from friends, relatives to a stranger, people say Namaste to each other. According to the Hindu customs, Namaste has a spiritual meaning too. Yoga is a subject not just limited to postures, but extends beyond to a spiritual discipline and practice. Incorporating the action of bringing your hands to your heart, followed by a slight bow, authenticates the meaning of Namaste. A more modern way is to bow a little and just say it. Namaste is not only about sending greetings. The spiritual meaning of ‘Namaste’ literally means: I bow and respect to you. In India, the gesture of Anjali Mudra (prayer position of the hands) not only accompanies the word, but … At the base level, namasté is a salutation of respect and reverence. A traditional Indian greeting, it literally translates to “I bow to you” ( namah or namas, meaning bow, te meaning you). Namaste is a Sanskrit word comprised of the root words “namah” and “te.” Namah is commonly translated to mean “to bow” while the root te means “to you.”. Originally a Sanskrit word, namaste directly translates to: “the divine in me, bows to the divine in you.” Namaste can actually be broken down into three parts. It is therefore used as a gesture of recognition that is equivalent to a sentence of the type: “The light that is in me recognizes and greets the light that is in you”. American yogis know the word namaste pretty well. In general, the meaning of the word and gesture Namaste is clearly spiritual. How do you respond when someone says namaste? Namaste (Namas + te) is derived from Sanskrit and is a combination of the word namas and the second person dative pronoun in its enclitic form, te. Although in the West the word \"Namaste\" is usually spoken in conjunction with the gesture. I loved that little song. In yoga classes, it has become traditional for teacher and students to exchange namastés at the end of class as a gesture of mutual respect. The term namas is made of 2 words na meaning “not” and mamah meaning “i” or mine. So when you say Namaste to someone, it implies ‘I bow to the divine in you’. So what do you say when someone says namasté to you? For such an old word, it came to English fairly recently. While the nod towards this deeper meaning is nice and intentionally present for some, these words have a much more casual meaning in our day to day lives. Decide what it means to you, so when you do use this popular greeting it is being delivered with the vibe, … In India, Namaste may also be used in cross-cultural academic and business settings, although generally, the Western handshake has replaced this tradition. Namaste is a way to “send out to the universe something good, something that makes sense in that instant, the possibility of a time when all strife, suffering and harm inflicted upon each other and other living things, will simply stop”. When you say, “Namaste” in yoga, you are recognising and paying homage to that divine spark which lives within all of us. It’s mostly used in the cities. The latter is … I think his song sums up the sentiment and the meaning of namaste better than any other explanation I have heard. Types of Namaste. It is honoring your soul and the light within each and every being. The spiritual meaning of Namaste essentially is the pouring of the sense of togetherness, oneness, and love, acceptance, and gratitude from one mind to the other mind or the environment. Not only is it a salutation but it is used as a sign of reverence and respect. Namaste’s literal translation in Sanskrit is "Nama" (to bow), "As" (I), and "Te" (you). What does namaste mean? Namaste is alternate between polite and humbleness. In Indian culture, it is used casually. Over the years we have lost contact with each other, but his song still rings in my mind. Namaste is my way of greeting Hindi speaking elders in my hometown Melbourne or a way of saying hello to most people back in India. Broken down into syllables, ‘nama’ means bow, ‘as’ means I, and ‘te’ means you. This answer from a friend led me to ask other yogis what they think about when they say Namaste. We hear it in almost every yoga class and translate the Sanskrit word to mean “the divine in me bows to the divine in you” or something close – substitute divine for light or spirit or another good-feeling term. The exact translation of namaste from the Hindu language, Sanskrit, is “I bow to you”. The Buddhist or Hindu religion highlights the presence of a divine light in each of us. The word namasté expresses the belief that everyone has some light or spirit in themselves. 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