What Does Namaste Mean? The Significance Behind the Phrase
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For anyone who has taken a yoga class, you know the teacher will typically face the class at the end, put their hands together at the palm with fingers pointing up, bring them down, and say “namaste” as they bow. If you’ve been to enough yoga classes, you’ve caught on, and you know to do this back and say “namaste” at the same time.
But many people don't realize that the word has a deep significance in South Asia and Hindu culture. And while your intention of use might be good, it's important to know the history and the proper way to use namaste before saying it.
What does namaste mean?
The word namaste comes from Sanskrit (an ancient literary language in one of the oldest religions, Hinduism).
“The literal meaning of the Sanskrit phrase namaste is: ‘bow to you.’ Within this expression lies a deeper invitation,” says Jeanine Thompson, a transformational coach, speaker, and author of 911 From Your Soul. “Namely, to see beyond physicality and honor the divine expression within all.”
It’s been used as a no-contact way to greet someone.
“To be greeted with this word is to be saluted with one’s hands pressed together and a slight bow originating from the Indian diaspora,” says Dr. Tracey Bond, D.Litt, HUMA. Div, innovator, co-creator of the DoubleOHHSevenEffect, and spiritual author. "Its social cultural gesture can be associated with greeting or introducing a person."
However, as Meen Fried Chicken Curry points out, "it's not the India equivalent of saying hello."
"Hinduism believes that God resides in everyone, and namaste is a way of respecting the other person's inner soul."
How do you pronounce namaste?
According to Merriam-Webster, the proper way to pronounce the word namaste is “NAH-muh-stay.”
The word has also been transliterated as “na-mas-tay,” and “namasthe,” in the past with “namaste” becoming the standard in the mid-20th century.
What Is the namaste gesture?
The gesture, called Anjali Mudra, goes something like this:
You put your hands together in praying position
With palms touching
With your thumbs close to your heart
From above, you lower your hands to heart center
And then you’ll say the word namaste with a slight bow.
When do you use namaste and should you use it?
As Yoga Journal notes, since namaste is used as a greeting, it's a bit perplexing to use it at the end of a yoga class. Meen Fried Chicken Curry points out ways it could be used in everyday life:
When you meet an elderly person as a sign of respect.
While seeking blessing from a teacher or mentor.
When you are genuinely thankful to someone.
Does that mean it shouldn't be used in yoga classes? “If you are unsure with your familiarity or resonance with the phrase, you can simply share a deeply felt expression such as [saying], ‘I honor you.’ A soul will recognize the deeper energetic of your intention shared beyond the literal words spoken,” Bond explains.
Susanna Barkataki, renowned yoga teacher, advocate, and author, shared a great video on her YouTube channel about namaste, and she lists out these questions to ask yourself before you use it:
Why do you say namaste?
Are you honoring the culture and pronouncing it correctly?
Are you attached to it?
Is there another phrase you can be using?
Barkataki also has a list of dozens of other words that can be used at the end of a yoga class to convey your feelings.
One thing is for sure, using namaste as a pun or joke is downright disrespectful.
What Is the Difference Between Namaste and Namaskar?
“Namaste and namaskar are closely related words sourced in Indian culture that express respect as hands are visibly brought to chest pressed together and uprightly so, as if to emulate from the heart/center of one's inner being,” explains Bond.
The first part of both words—“nama”—are the same, which means salutation or a greeting. The “te” in namaste means “you.” In namaskar, the “kar” or “kaara” means doing. So when one says “namaskar,” they are saying “to pay salutations.”
When Thompson explored the two words to understand their meanings, she said, “myriad resources suggest the phrase can be used interchangeably. However, upon further exploration, some sources offer that namaskar is distinguished as having a different potency.”
Some experts say that you should use “namaskar” when you’re greeting many people, and you use “namaste” when you’re greeting one person.
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