Every culture in the world has a method of greeting others when they meet; it can be a handshake, a hug, a bow, or a Namaste. All forms of greeting have the same purpose and that is to acknowledge another human being with positivity.

“Namaste” is a respectful form of greeting in Hindu culture when two people meet and when they depart. Persons greeting each other face each other joining their palms together, touching the tips of all the fingers pointing upward, and say namaste with a bow. This greeting is appropriate for all – people younger than us, of our own age, older and even strangers.

Namaste is a greeting with scientific and spiritual reasons behind it. According to Hindu belief, divinity is present in all of us. Namaste” is a combination of words derived from Sanskrit that mean “I bow to you” or “I bow to the divinity within you” The spiritual meaning of namaste conveys that “the divine in me respectfully recognizes the divine in you.” This invokes the feeling of spiritual oneness of heart and mind with the person one is greeting.

Scientifically it is a non-contact form of greeting, as opposed to hugging or shaking hands and will not spread any disease and so is very relevant in the current times. It is quite proper if a person from a different culture uses this form of salutation to another person, Hindu or non-Hindu.

Namaste is an expression of respect, humility, harmony and accord, the vital qualities in every human interaction. With understanding of its spiritual context, namaste can be a proper greeting for us all.

Written by Anu Darbha, for more info www.paintandcraft.com