Namaste: A Symbol of Love and Respect

The first time I heard the word Namaste, I thought perhaps it was the equivalent of gesundheit. A sort of utterance after a sneeze to ward off the evil spirits of bad health, only it was said every time yoga class was about to begin and again at the end. Eventually I noticed a gesture went along with it every time: palms coming together over the chest and a slight bow of the head. My interpretation of Namaste began to shift when I noticed this. I surmised, when other people in the class would return the gesture, that it was more of a salutation than a keep-the-demons-away-blessing.

When I learned that Namaste, a Sanskrit word that has made its way into our vernacular, literally translated into “I bow to you,” I thought I was way off the mark with my original impression. It was a salutation, a sort of greeting between people, but there is a wealth of history, and thus meanings, behind it. The mudra—a ritual gesture—of the palms touching is said to represent the spiritual in one hand and the physical in the opposite hand. When the hands touch, it is symbolic of one trying to rise above the physical and worldly aspect of himself—and to accept openly the person to whom the greeting is being given.

The Art of Namaste

The stalk on which a ripe fruit rests bends or bows in humility.
If the stalk has not learned the art of bowing, it breaks.

Today, offer your namaste not only to your Guru or teacher but also to your lover, your enemy, your waiter, your boss, your parents, the Self within the Self. Bow to the heart of every being you meet with with reverence. All are worthy. Each have something to reveal to you about Who You Are.

~ Leena Patel, founder of  Karuna Yoga - the Yoga of Compassion

There are many other interpretations of what each hand symbolizes, and given how far back the word Namaste dates, it’s not surprising. It is one of the greetings mentioned in the Hindu’s religious texts, the Vedas—arguably the oldest scriptures in the world. For some it is a greeting between people (or a yoga class) recognizing in each other peace, respect, and openness. It is a common greeting between friends and strangers alike amongst Hindus. For others, though, it is a gesture used while communing with a deity, or a sort of centering phrase to induce calm and preparation for yoga or meditation when alone. Aadil Palkhivala suggests using Namaste to meditate upon the heart chakra, since the hands are over the chest and that helps focus the attention to the heart.*

It appears to be agreed, though, that Namaste is a perfect gesture or mudra to begin a yoga session. I’m not sure how many people just say it in a gesundheit context, as I did, and how many realize how much history is behind the word. Namaste, according to Nitin Kumar, editor of Exotic India**, talks about how nama can be further broken down into na and ma, which would translate into “not mine.” He explains that this a fundament of Namaste, because it proclaims a rejection of all things selfish or detrimental to the soul, and it is an embrace of humility and selflessness. And if we truly mean this when we speak the word, it becomes an acknowledgment of kindred spirits—of recognizing in another person the same wish.

*www.yogajournal.com/basics/822
**www.exoticindiaart.com/article/namaste

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About Author

Maura Stackpoole is an advocate for yoga and other mindful practices, and is a graduate from Michigan State University. She is also the editor and publicist for Mindful Muscle ().

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