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« Namaste » ! We often hear this word come out of the mouths of yoga teachers after each session. Unfortunately, people use it almost systematically without knowing its meaning.
When I ask yoga enthusiasts what Namaste means, very few of them can give me the correct answer. Especially since some teachers do not even bother to explain to their students what this word means.
It is precisely for this reason that I decided to devote my article to the meaning of this term Sanskrit.
The archaic origin
Namaste is a very little known word, since it comes from distant lands. Its origins also go back very far, to the era of ancestral Hindu culture. Sanskrit is one of the many languages spoken in India, and moreover the most sacred to all who practice Hindu.
According to linguists, Sanskrit is also a perfect and very complete language from a grammatical point of view.
Hindus use this name to express their greetings (hello and goodbye), regardless of the time. Namaste is also used to thank or to ask for something, being a real mark of respect towards the interlocutor.
In general, it is accompanied by a rather singular gesture, the mudra, which consists in joining the palms of the two hands together, and placing them in front of the chest.
Name : Sa
Now, let’s take a closer look at the etymological meaning of this old word for more understanding. To be honest, Namaste is a compound word: “namas” and “te”.
The first term is a noun which translates to salute, reverence, and etymologically comes from “nam”, meaning to bow or prostrate.
The suffix “te” is a personal pronoun which means to you.
So, if we combine these two senses, we see that Namaste means “I greet you” or “I bow to you”.
However, this word still hides from us countless meanings that I will try to address clearly through this article.
Indian salvation
Namaste, as well as its variants (Namaskar, Namaskaara, Namaskaram) are the ways in which Indians greet each other. Whether at home, on the street, on public transport or on the phone, they use it when they want to start a conversation.
Whether young or old, friends or strangers, Namaste is the most common way to greet each other, say goodbye or even welcome.
The mudra
For those who don’t yet know, Namaste isn’t just a simple word. It is also a very special gesture. For Indians, the conversation between two or more people can not be realized that the mind.
By joining their hands in front of their breasts, they say to themselves: “may our spirits meet”. It also allows us to salute the part of divinity that reigns in us.
Indeed, the mudra represents the belief that there is a divine spark lying near the chakra of our heart.
The mudra is also performed in front of the face to greet a master (religious, teacher…), as well as above the head to greet God.
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Namaste’s gesture: How to go about it?
Truth be told, when you place your hands in front of the heart chakra, the flow of divine love increases. Bowing your head while closing your eyes allows your mind to fade away for a while, in favor of the divine light in your heart.
Theoretically, you can use mudra as a meditation technique that allows you to explore your heart chakra even more.
In the company of another person, this can be a great exercise full of symbolism, during which you can make a real connection.
What I find very beneficial is that even if you don’t have enough time for meditation, this exercise is short-lived.
When should we do the Namaste gesture?
Whether done by you or your yoga teacher, the purpose of the mudra is to help you and the other person create a connection. In the space of a while, your energies combine and you easily free yourself from your ego.
“In you, I greet the light, the love, the beauty, the peace because these things are also found in me. Because we share these attributes, we are connected, we are alike, we are one. “(1).
The mudra should be performed with an open heart and a peaceful mind so that your souls can unite.
Ideally, Namaste should be said not only at the beginning, but also at the end of yoga sessions.
However, it is mainly done only at the end of the course, because that is when the mind is at its most serene, it takes a back seat and the energy in all the room is the most peaceful.
Usually, the teacher performs the mudra first to show respect and gratitude to his students, as well as to his initiators. In return, students should bond with their ancestors and let the truth fill them.
“This truth is that which says that we all form one and the same entity when we live by listening to our heart. “(2).
Gratitude
On the practical side, ending a yoga or meditation session with a Namaste allows you to express a great feeling of gratitude concerning the experience of collective practice and the moments spent together:
- Gratitude to yourself for taking the session
- Gratitude for the yoga teacher who guided you throughout the practice
- Gratitude for other students for sharing the session
- Gratitude for the yogis who came before you, who opened and learned the path of practice
The word Namaste in the plural
I would like to share with you a very interesting fact, highlighted by scholar Richard Rosen. As I told you, the “te” in the word translates to “you”. However, Namaste should only be used when speaking to a single person.
Thus, the yoga teacher addressing all his students at the end of the session must say: “Namo vaha”. “Vaha” being the plural form of “te”.
Divine essence
According to tradition, there is a divine essence in each of us. An essence to be discovered thanks to many practices such as yoga.
When we are in this perfect state of calm and alert, we put our hands together, we lean forward and pronounce “Namaste”.
In this way, we offer a true presence to the divine essence that is found in each of us, in others and in what surrounds us.
It is the same when practitioners of the Catholic religion kneel and make the sign of the cross as a sign of humility and respect to God. Thus, Namaste is directed towards God, the universe, another individual, but also towards oneself.
Expressing it in words, here is what we can formulate with Namaste: “The part of the divine in me recognizes the part of the divine that there is in you” (3).
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Spirituality and Yoga
Beyond the semantic aspect of Namaste, the spiritual and philosophical aspect also gives it even deeper meanings. As salvation comes from the bottom of the heart, it creates a powerful bond between individuals who do not rub shoulders with social expectations and masks.
Yoga and meditation are practices that provide us with several benefits. When you do it on a regular basis, you strengthen awareness of the present moment.
In addition, you free yourself from worries, judgments, and other questions that may confuse your mind.
So you can easily reach the connected state with the whole thing.
During a yoga session, the word Namaste is used as a way to express humility. Not only vis-à-vis such and such an interlocutor, but also vis-à-vis the universe, as I have already explained above.
You no longer look at your yoga teacher and other students the same way when addressing Namaste to them. I’m sure you will even feel a thrill of joy coming from the bottom of your heart.
When you hear or pronounce this old word of Sanskrit origin, you are making a conscious contribution to the process of spiritual evolution that it seeks to stimulate within you.