Greeting with a Namaste

For a person visiting India, this is the first gesture and word that he gets to see and hear. Hence he must learn and understand it.
' Namaste ' the Hindu form of greeting is pronounced as na-ma-stay -- the 't' sound being very soft. It is derived from the Sanskrit language and means ' I bow to you with respect.' It is not only used as a respectful greeting but has a spiritual significance in the sense it negates one's ego and recognizes the divine light  in others. It has the unifying principle which states that God resides in all of us. It is the acknowledgement of the divinity in self and others and the oneness of it. While saying it, you hold both the palms together in front of your chest and bow your head slightly. Both the actions have to be done simultaneously.


It is a versatile form of greeting in the sense it can be a formal as well as an informal greeting depending on the situation. It can be used for meeting as well as for parting. It can be used any time of the day or night.And it can be used by the young and the old. Sometimes the word is spoken and at times you remain silent doing only the gesture with your hands. Both are acceptable. It is formal when you greet a stranger or an elder and informal when you greet a friend or a relative. It can be used to express respect, humility and gratitude and is exchanged by people of all races, age, gender and religions.


This salutation from ancient India can be seen in many Asian countries which have been influenced by Hinduism and Buddhism and the word  'Namaste' is replaced with the word from the local language.


It is used in our daily life, in our prayers, in yoga and in our Hindu religious rituals. It helps in removing barriers and evinces a favourable response from every person.Now that you understand the significance of  'Namaste',  you will be able to use it in the company of Indians.