Often, we hear the yoga teacher say the Hindu expression “Namaste”, accompanied by a greeting. At the beginning or end of the session, this word is systematically used, but unfortunately, most of the time, few people know its true meaning.
Feel free to take the test, by yourself, and ask the students in a yoga class if they know the definition of Namaste, you will find that very few of them have the answer. What is even sadder is that a limited number of teachers teach Indian vocabulary that is specific to yoga. Generally, this word is confused with “Thank you”, which is not entirely true. Let’s discover together the meaning of this Sanskrit term!
The origin of the word Namaste in Sanskrit
Did you know that its origin goes back to the time of ancestral Hindu culture in India? This Indian statement comes from Sanskrit, one of the languages spoken in those distant times. To put it simply, Sanskrit is therefore an ancient language, originating from the Vedas (Vedic sacred texts, which are Buddhist and Hindu religious writings). It corresponds, in few ways, to Latin for Europeans. Today, it appears that this greeting is particularly used in India or Nepal, although it is increasingly being used in the West. It is also considered a mantra in Hinduism.
How can Namaste be translated into English?
Very simply, in Sanskrit, Namaste literally corresponds to a three-syllable word: Nama, which means “to bow”, as means “I” and finally te means “you”. In concrete terms, we can therefore conclude that this expression has the following meaning: “I bow to you”. It’s that simple!
Actually… For the purely transcribed part, because for the rest, there are some specificities to know. In general, the meaning of the word and gesture Namaste is clearly spiritual. The Buddhist or Hindu religion highlights the presence of a divine light in each of us. 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”.
Beyond a simple greeting to say hello or goodbye, it is also a profound thanks and a mark of respect that we ask for or show. To deepen the Sanskrit term a little, you should know that Namas can also be translated as “nothing is mine”, which means that you prefer the heart and authenticity without expecting anything in return, rather than your ego. A great life lesson!
Be careful not to confuse Namaste with its variants
Usually, Indians greet each other mainly with one of the following phrases: Namaskar, Namaskaara and Namaskaram. Whether they are at home, on the street or on public transport, this is how they start a conversation. In fact, today, Namaste is the most common form of greeting or way of saying goodbye to each other, regardless of age category, even if they are complete strangers.
If you have ever heard someone say Namaskar during a yoga class (which is most likely), it is more of a “classic” greeting, literally “I greet you”. It can therefore be used to greet a group of people, while Namaste is preferred to welcome an individual, using a very personal and inner divine greeting.
The expression associated with the plural
Richard Rosen, a very famous yoga teacher and author of 5 books on the subject, confirms that the word Namaste should be addressed exclusively to one person. Except to greet a group of individuals, the word must therefore be given in the plural .: Namo Vaha. The phrase Vaha refers to the plural of te (or “you”).
Namaste: more than a word, a gesture !
For novices or yoga lovers, it is important to know that Namaste is not just a word, it is also a symbolic gesture. As you may have noticed, when one person greets another with the Indian mudra, he usually accompanies his word with a unique gesture. This one is a mudra: a gesture that is not associated with any religion. Indian cultures believe that a conversation between two or more people is only possible through the mind.
With this concrete gesture and by joining their hands in front of their breasts, the Indians believe that their minds will be able to meet. According to Buddhism, everyone has a part of divinity in themselves and through the mudra, they also greet it. It is also the conviction that the divine spark, located next to the heart, will be listened to and heard.
What is a mudra in India?
To get to the point, mudra translates into Sanskrit as: “sign”, “gesture” or “seal”. Each syllable corresponds to its own meaning Mud being happiness and Dhra, happiness. Each of its signs has a deep meaning and is linked to a part of vital magic.
How to do Namaste gesture correctly?
How to do Namaste gesture correctly? With experience, it is possible to understand Namaste easily according to the gesture associated with it. Yes, there is no unique gesture for a Namaste.
Total Time: 2 minutes
To begin with, the simplest and most traditional:
→ Simply join the palms of your hands, one against the other, in front of the Heart Chakra (one of the 7 main chakras), close your eyes and bow forward. Well done, you just made your first Namaste!
→ At the same time, we close our eyes while the gesture is being made, because it is a way to focus more deeply on a particular intention, which comes from the heart and to share the love that circulates in your environment.
For the second way of greeting:
→ It is possible to do exactly the same procedure, simply by changing hands. In other words, you join your hands again and place your thumbs directly against the Third Eye (point between the two eyebrows). As with the previous version, close your eyes and lean forward. After getting up, also remember to bring your hands back to the level of the heart chakra.
→ At the same time, we close our eyes while the gesture is being made, because it is a way to focus more deeply on a particular intention, which comes from the heart and to share the love that circulates in your environment.
Finally, the last way to greet is as follows:
→ Apply exactly the same procedure as the second possibility, only this time the hands are positioned above the head. Bow, eyes closed, then stand up and bring your hands back to the heart chakra.
→ It should be applied only as a greeting to the gods. Generally, it is practiced during religious rituals.
Knowing the specificities of a Namaste
Often, this greeting is associated with the gesture seen above, except that the latter itself means Namaste. So it is not always necessary to say the word in a bow. In fact, it’s a matter of preference, you can do it, or not. Be aware that in India, the gesture is very little associated with the word.
A little precision, if we gather our hands together at the level of the heart chakra, it is closely linked to closed eyes, that is to say, it increases the flow of divine love. It is a way to let go and help the spirit to “join” the deities. Moreover, it is quite possible to practice a Namaste to oneself, as a meditation technique, to enter into harmony with the heart chakra in greater depth. This principle also applies when practiced with another person, meditation is simply much faster, because it creates a real connection with that person. In particular, it allows you to explore your chakras more easily.
The Namaste mediation exercise is ideal for all those who do not have the time to devote themselves to it. Think about it!
When is the best time to make a Namaste?
No matter who practices Namaste, whether it is your yoga teacher or yourself, this mudra, as we have seen before, helps two people to create a connection between them. The principle is simple: after a certain time, your energies merge and offer the possibility to your ego to be released more easily.
“In you, I greet light, love, beauty, peace because these things are also in me. Because we share these attributes, we are connected, we are similar, we are one. »
To practice Namaste, you must have an open heart and a peaceful mind so that souls can unite. Ideally, it should be done at the beginning of the session as well as at the end of the yoga session. But it is rather usual to hear it only at the end of the session, since it is at this time that the body and mind are most peaceful and that they allow a better harmony of energies in the room.
More generally, the first to initiate the mudra is the teacher himself in order to thank and affirm his respect towards his students as well as his own teachers. Then it is the students’ turn to make contact, in response to their teacher.
Expressing gratitude with Namaste
A Namaste is a good way to show gratitude and express feelings towards the experience itself, but also towards collective moments of sharing, after a session of yoga or meditation. In practice, this makes it possible to be grateful:
- To yourself to thank the yogi inside you.
- Towards the teacher, always present to guide and help the students.
- To the other students with whom you shared the session.
- And finally, all those who have preceded you and allowed yoga to become more democratic.
Linking spirituality
Understanding Namaste also means going beyond a simple vision of it. We must take the time to contemplate deeper aspects such as the spiritual or philosophy. Since salvation emerges from the bottom of the heart, it creates powerful bonds, even between fundamentally different individuals, both in terms of expectations and social classes.
It is good to know that yoga and meditation are disciplines that offer immediate and often neglected benefits. Practiced regularly, they help you to strengthen your awareness of the present moment, to be more rooted in your current life. In other words, you limit your sources of concern, unnecessary judgments and questions that disturb your inner self. You are much zenner thanks to very effective relaxation postures and breathing exercises. Through Namaste, practitioners express their humility towards humans, but also towards the universe itself.
Some say they feel a shiver of emotion, logically joy, when they greet the teacher and other students with a Namaste, after a session of yoga or meditation.
Namaste, a new principle of daily life
Finally, more than just a word and a gesture, Namaste is a philosophy of life! It allows us to adapt our behaviour according to the daily situations that are available to us. To improve, even more your feeling about this, imagine it as a moment of inner peace, which triggers a chain reaction to the outside. Use it to resolve tensions or conflicts that interact negatively in particular areas of your life. As a flow of energy that you send to your family, friends, colleagues to convey your sense of gratitude.
If you don’t believe in it or you doubt it can happen this way, think for a moment about how easily you can become sad or even depressed after being around a totally negative person, both in words and actions. Remember this sentence:
“Humours are contagious“.
Improve your relationships easily !
Yes, it may seem absurd to some, but Namaste is able to improve your relationships, whatever they may be. Remember, this means: “I bow to you”, is nothing more than the expression of your vision of the person in front of you, that is, as he is. Thus, you offer a particularly powerful intention by making her understand that she is a special person. As long as Namaste is made with the heart, it can only be beneficial, both for the giver and the receiver. Be aware and ready to see a person beyond the physical envelope, but for what they are deep inside themselves!
It is not just a simple “hello” between two friends or colleagues, but a moment when you are present, with them, and nowhere else. Physical, mental and energetic presence is essential to build a good relationship, even better, it is a gift out of time you are giving them.