NAMASTé: WHAT THIS INDIAN GESTURE OF GREETING MEANS

Among the various disciplines that combine physical exercise and mental relaxation, yoga is certainly one of the most appreciated and practiced. It goes without saying that when you attend a yoga class you will hear for the first time some terms that do not refer only to a particular gesture or movement because they have a much more considerable history and culture behind them.

Today we will discover the meaning and all that lies behind the namasté, a form of greeting originating from the areas between India and Nepal, but which is becoming more and more known.

The meaning of the term "namasté"

The word namasté comes from Sanskrit, from the "union of the term"namas", which means" respectfully greet, prostrate, bow ", and"you", or" in front of you, in front of you ". Therefore, the most common meaning is that of" I bow to you ", although there is also a" meaning with spiritual significance, which can be translated more fully with "mi bow to the divine qualities that are in you ". The origins of namasté are very remote and sink into the Hindu culture. In fact, these people already used the expression namasté both as a form of greeting and farewell, as well as to ask for something with politeness and respect or to thank someone.

Already for the Hindus "namasté" not only remained a form of vocal greeting, but was accompanied by a "mudra", that is, by a significant gesture. This is what still remains today: bring the palms of your hands together as a sign of prayer and bring them to chest height, just below the chin.

When the namaste gesture is used today

As we have already mentioned, despite having such ancient origins, the use of namasté as a form of greeting is still present today. It is found in all countries where the Hindi language or its dialects is spoken, where it can slightly change the mudra that accompanies it. For example, in Thailand, this practice sees the approaching of the hands in front of the nose and mouth and a slight bow. In addition, there are some variations of the term such as namaskar or namasté sawasdeekrap, if the one who greets is a man, and noamasté sawasdeekah, if, on the other hand, she is a woman.

In any case, the conditions for which this form of greeting is chosen remain almost unchanged. In India, it is used to greet anyone, while in Nepal the variation namaskar it serves as a mudra mainly for addressing the elderly. In the case of Hindu culture, that "spiritual meaning is recovered and so the namasté becomes a religious gesture for when you enter a temple and thank the deities. Finally, in the West, it remains anchored to the places where yoga or meditation is practiced. and it is intended as a formula for focusing our spiritual energy.

What does the namaste symbol represent?

The namaste is often associated with the same symbol of the Indian Om. It resembles a three in Arabic numerals with a round stroke next to it and a dot at the top. Each component takes on a precise meaning.

First, the lower part of the 3 indicates the waking state, which is the one in which we normally find ourselves. Then, the upper part symbolizes the phase of deep sleep, while with the round hatch next to it it means the dream state. Finally, the curve under the dot represents the state of illusion, the one that prevents us from reaching the ideal state, represented by the upper dot.

Namasté and yoga

For most Western countries, the word namasté is associated with the discipline and philosophy of yoga that is becoming popular especially in recent years. Famous in the woman's universe, yoga is spreading a lot also among men and even as a practice for children. breathing technique. The result consists of psychophysical exercises that have the purpose of meditation and relaxation.

Although it is believed to the contrary, in a yoga session, the namaste greeting does not happen only at the end of the lesson. In fact, this mudra is also found during the meditation phase when one assumes the cross-legged position, before the sun salutation and also during the execution of some other yoga position, such as, for example, the Ashwa Sanchalanasana, or the equestrian position.

To perform namaste correctly, you must first loosen and stretch your whole body. Then, bring your palms close to your chest and bring them together, close your eyes and relax all the muscles in your face. Your energy must be concentrated between the palms, as well as your attention: to do this, make the fingertips and the base of the hands adhere as well as possible. Finally, regulate your breathing, listen to your heart and free the thoughts that crowd your mind. At the base of this practice, there is the precept of the here and now, fundamental to counter the tumult of everyday life.