Namaste and its common variants ‘namaskar,’ ‘namaskaara’ or ‘namaskaram’, is one of the five forms of formal traditional greeting mentioned in the Vedas.
It refers to paying homage or showing respect to one another, as is the practice today, when we greet each other.
In Sanskrit the word is namah + te = namaste which 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 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.
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.
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