Why do we do Namaskar?

Indian culture is admired and respected all over the world for its beauty and depth. Almost every Indian tradition and ritual has either a scientific, logical, historical, social or spiritual significance.

Rituals are the basis of traditions. Rituals can provide substance and meaning to life at both the individual and social level. The vast majority of Hindus engage in rituals on a daily basis. And one such common ritual is Namaskar (Namaste).

                         

The gesture (or mudra) of Namaste is a simple act made by bringing together both palms of the hands before the heart, and lightly bowing the head. In the simplest of terms it is accepted as a humble greeting straight from the heart and reciprocated accordingly. The Namaste gesture is designed to signify the belief that we all have a divine spark in the heart chakra.  One can do Namaste to oneself as a meditation technique to go deeper inside the heart chakra; when done with someone else, it is also a beautiful, albeit quick, meditation.

The gesture is an acknowledgment of the soul in one by the soul in another. "Nama" means bow, "as" means I, and "te" means you. Therefore, Namaste literally means "bow me you" or "I bow to you."

The Namaste gesture is called Anjali Mudra. This common symbolic hand position uses one hand to signify the worldly self and the other to represent the spiritual nature of the world. The purpose of Anjali Mudra is to show that you are making the effort to rise above potential differences with others. Anjali Mudra, a sign of love and respect, helps you to connect to the person to whom you are bowing. Actually, this posture puts pressure on the navel and activates the five vital energies situated there. Activation of these vital energies in the body makes it sensitive to accepting sattvik frequencies. This later awakens the 'Atma shakti.' 

The proper performance of Namaste requires that we blend the five fingers of the left hand exactly with the fingers of the right hand which brings the nerve and pulses (nadi) currents into poised balance, into a consciousness of the suskhama, awakening the third eye known as (gjyana Njanam), within the greeter to worship God in the greeted.

The significance behind this simple act in fact governs the entire gamut of our active life. Thus the process of Namaskar has so many scientific benefits .The five fingers of the left hand represent the five senses of karma and those of the right hand the five organs of knowledge. Hence it signifies that our karma or action must be in harmony, and governed by rightful knowledge, prompting us to think and act correctly.