Fascinating Indian custom Greeting - The Namaste

“Namaste means that my soul acknowledges yours -

not  just your light , your wisdom , your goodness , but also your darkness,
your suffering , your imperfections.
It is a recognition and acceptance of the inexplicable divine absurdity,
the miraculous woven into the ordinary , light and darkness intimately entwined in magical, messy humanity. It means that I honor all that you are with all that I am.
So, namaste, my fellow travelers. I'm so glad we're on this trek through
the universe together.”

― L.R. Knost

There are various Verbal greetings found in India ,varies  between different regions and the peoples lived , Also it depends upon the people’s relationships.

But Namaste ,Namaskar and Namaskaram is a main custom of all Indians to respectfully greet  and honor a person or group of peoples , at any time of  the day. It is the traditional Hindu greeting . It is used both for greeting as well as good-bye.This is accompanied with a nod of the head or a bow depending on the status of the person you are greeting.

Namaste is usually spoken with a slight bow and hands pressed together, palms touching and fingers pointing upwards, thumbs close to the chest. This gesture is called añjali mudrā; the standing posture incorporating it is pranamasana.

Namaste is utilized generally in the diverse Indian subcontinent and in where individuals having a place with Southeast and South Asia have started. Namaste or Namaskar, a deferential type of welcome each other when meeting after quite a while or meeting unexpectedly. This is an offer of appreciation for any assistance offered or given to someone else. On the off chance that you wish to thank the individual, Namaste is a reasonable signal to show. 

Namaskar incorporates 16 upacharas inside sanctuaries or the spot of love. As per researchers, Namaste is utilized to welcome visitors or some other individual. Through Namaste, one can offer the thanks of regard, love, honor, civility, and friendliness. It very well may be utilized as a type of farewell. In old Hindu Script, it is Taittriya Upanishad which means dealing with your visitor like a divine being.

Additionally, Namaskar is among the six types of Pranayama, it is utilized in various pieces of India

History of the word Namaste:

The word Namaste has its underlying foundations in the Sanskrit language. Namaste dates back to Old Sanskrit, which is found in the Vedas The words ‘Namah + te’ signifies  ‘I bow to the divine in you’. By saying Namaste, the person doing it acknowledges the spiritual oneness of the spirit in the other person greeted. Hence Namaste is the highest and the most respectful form of greeting we can find in any culture of the world.

How is it pronounced?

Although saying namaste to others has become a bit of a trend outside of India, it is often spoken incorrectly. The pronunciation of namaste differs slightly throughout India, but the first two syllables should be pronounced with more of an "uh" sound than an "ah" sound as often heard in the West.

"Nah-mah-stay" is the most common incorrect pronunciation of namaste. Instead of visualizing "nah" to begin the word, think of "num" instead and the rest will flow. The second syllable simply sounds like "uh," then finish the word with "stay."

The Top Benefit of  Doing Namaste:

There is no physical touching of the other person while greeting. In this way, any risks of contacting microbes and diseases from the other person we greet are fully avoided. More than its health advantages, ‘Namaste’ has a deep meaning attached to it besides several other lesser known benefits.

What wellness systems says about Namaste :

Like acupressure have acknowledged the other far reaching health benefits of Namaste. While holding the Anjali Mudra or the worshipful pose, the person holds both his palms touching each other. When this is done, the unintentionally activates all the very important nerve endings and vital points in his palms.

This is a very beneficial therapeutic practice that can tone up several body systems and balance several inconsistencies and hormonal secretions in the body. these, also help person to remember that person to whom he greet for a long time.

The Spiritual Significance of "Namaste"

The reason we use Namaste has a deeper spiritual significance as well. 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 and equality with the meeting of the palms, we honor the god in the person we meet.

During prayers , Hindus not only do Namaste, they also bow and close their eyes, in effect to look into the inner spirit. This physical gesture is sometimes accompanied by names of gods such as Ram Ram, Jai Shri Krishna, Namo Narayana, or Jai Siya Ram. It may also be used with Om Shanti, a common refrain in Hindu chants.Namaste is also quite common when two devout Hindus meet. It indicates the recognition of the divinity within ourselves and extends a warm welcome to each other.

 While doing Namaste, the brain can focus. Thus, the body can zero in on things better.

The stance of Namaste is appropriate to get help from the strain. While doing this, the individual will have a sensation of bliss on the face. In this way, with the grin all over, it assists with fortifying the connection between people. While doing Namaste, the hand is kept in a fixed position, and because of this, the wrists and fingers are adaptable to move, and it is acceptable to hand yoga.Hence, in Hindu culture, the Namaste act is the appropriate one as it can decrease the odds of damage that can spread from warmly greeting one another. Along these lines, Namaste has been remembered for our way of life and it is generally polished among people.

Namaste has Grabbed the attention of the whole world:

The rampant spread of coronavirus and the huge toll of death it has claimed across geographies has triggered alarms in the world community. Also, growing awareness of the ways in which diseases can be contacted has made us re-evaluate the several customs, practices, beliefs, food habits and other aspects of personal and community living.

 One among such concerns is the way of greeting people. CDC revealed that shaking hands with people who carry microbes in their hands can be a sure way of contacting the germs leading to disease spread. Hence people have now started reinventing and recommending the several benefits of Namaste, the Indian traditional way of greeting that does not involve any physical contact with the other person.

In many countries such as the United States of America, European countries, Russia, and Nigeria, handshake is replaced by Indian Namaste for greeting other people. 

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