Namaskar
To greet another person a friend or acquaintance, to pay respect to an
elder, a holy person or a temple deity or a Hindu joins his or her
hands with palms together, bows down in front of the other person, and says
Namaskar, Namaste, or Pranam - meaning Reverent Salutations.
In Hindu view, Brahman dwells in the heart of each being as the individual
self. The joining of hands symbolizes the idea that in the meeting of two
persons, the Self actually meets Itself. Joining hands also symbolizes
humility.
Thus when a Hindu joins his hands and says namaskar, he actually says
in humility, "I bow to God in you; I love you and I respect you, as there is
no one like you."
|