Skip to main content

Namaste/ Vanakkam


The Meaning of Namaste:

Namaste is derived from Sanskrit and is a combination of two words, "Namaḥ" and "te."Namaḥ" means 'bow,' 'obeisance,' 'reverential salutation' or 'adoration' and te means 'to you' (dative case of 'you'). Therefore the words namah + te = namaste literally means “I bow to you” - my greetings, salutations or prostration to you. The word ‘namaha’ can also be literally interpreted as "na ma" (not mine). It has a spiritual significance of negating or reducing one's ego in the presence of another.

The meaning of Vnakkam

The real meeting between 2 people is the meeting of their mind. When we greet another, we do so with Vanankkam, which means "may our minds meet", indicated by the folded palms placed before the chest. The bowing down of the head is a gracious form of extending friendship, love and humility. 

Why Namaste:

Namaste could be just a casual or formal greeting, a cultural convention or an act of worship. However, there is much more to it than meets the eye. The real meeting between people is the meeting of their minds. When we greet one another with Namaste, it means, ‘may our minds meet’, indicated by the folded palms placed before the chest. The bowing down of the head is a gracious form of extending friendship in love, respect and humility.

Spiritual Significance of Namaste:

The reason why we do Namaste has a deeper spiritual significance. It recognizes the belief that the life force, the divinity, the Self or the God in me is the same in all. Acknowledging this oneness with the meeting of the palms, we honor the god in the person we meet.

Namaste in Prayers:


During prayers, Hindus not only do namaste but also bow and close their eyes, as it were, to look into the inner spirit. This physical gesture is sometimes accompanied by names of gods like ‘Ram Ram’, ‘Jai Shri Krishna’, ‘Namo Narayana’, ‘Jai Siya Ram’ or just ‘Om Shanti’ – the common refrain in Hindu chants. 
Namaste/ Vanakkam

Namaste in prayers

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Pottu

Bindi (Pottu) Bindi (in Hindi from the Sanskrit word "bindu", meaning "a drop, small particle, dot"), or a pottu/bottu (in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam) is a forehead decoration worn in South Asia. Traditionally it is a bright dot of red color applied in the center of the forehead close to the eyebrows. It comes in many sizes and shapes (round dot, graceful frozen flame & other exotic forms). The very positioning of the pottu is significant; the area between the eyebrows (where the bindi is placed) is said to be the 6th chakra, Ajna, the seat of "concealed wisdom" . According to followers of Hinduism, this chakra is the exit point for Kundalini energy. The bindi is said to retain energy and strengthen concentration. It is also said to protect against demons or bad luck. It is also believed that when someone jealous of you casts an  evil  eye on you, the bindi/pottu works as a repellent. The bindi also represents the third eye. Traditionall...
5 comments
Read more

The actual reason behind why u should not sit on pillows...

I am sure all of us would have got a good scolding from our parents or elders' at home if we ever sat on pillows.. when asked Why, they'll often say "You'll get a boil on your butt!" The actual reason behind it is, sitting on pillows especially those we put under our head wen we sleep it is believed that your debts will increase. If you look at it scientifically and logically the rear part of our body is considered unhygienic so imagine the amount of germs that will be on your pillow wen you sit on it.
40 comments
Read more

Samskaras- Karnavedha

Karnavedha (Week 12-Week 24) Karnavedha is one of the Hindu Sanskars performed for a child. It is an ear piercing ceremony that is performed on the 12th or 13th day after the birth or when the baby is 3 to 6 months old. This can still be performed in later in the third or fifth year for some Hindu children. Nowadays, both the " Mundan " and the "Karnavedha" are done together. This ceremony is performed on an auspicious day and it should be performed on the first half of the day. On the day of "Karnavedha", the mother bathes the child first and dresses him/her well with new clothes and ornaments. The father of the child performs the ceremony and a surgeon or goldsmith does the job of piercing the child’s ear. The needle used for piercing the ear lobes can be made of gold, silver, copper or steel. The ears are pierced by covering with white yarn. The child is placed on the lap of the mother (in the South Indian community the child is placed on the mot...
Post a Comment
Read more