Wishesh magazine february 2018 Wishesh magazine february 2018 | Page 33

* Utter the word namaste
and bow your head slightly
toward the tips of the fingers.
Namaste can be a casual or
formal greeting, a cultural
convention, or an act of
worship. However, there is
much more to it than meets
the eye.
This simple gesture is related
to the brow chakra, which
is often referred to as the
third eye or mind center.
Meeting another person, no
matter how casual, is really
a meeting of the minds.
When we greet one another
with Namaste, it means,
“may our minds meet.” The
bowing down of the head is
a gracious form of extending
friendship in love, respect,
and humility.
Indians greet each other with
namaste. The two palms
are placed together in front
of the chest and the head
bows whilst saying the word
namaste. This greeting is for
all -- people younger than us,
of our own age, those older
than us, friends and even
strangers.
There are five forms of
formal traditional greeting
enjoined in the shastras
or scriptures of which
namaskaram is one. This
is understood as prostration
but it actually refers to paying
homage as we do today
when we greet each other
with a namaste.
Folding hands together with
a smile to greet, Namaste is
a common cultural practice in
India. Namaste or Namaskar
or Namaskaram is a common
verbal salutation in India. It
is a customary greeting when
one meets or takes leave of
others.
While saying Namaste,
one commonly does this by
slight bow made with hands
pressed together, palms
touching and fingers pointed
upwards, infront of the chest.
It can also be done without
words and carries the same
meaning.
Each palm represents the
separate individuality. Each
palm supports the five fingers.
Similarly, each personality has
five sheaths called the five
kosas. The five different parts
of the personality are called
pancakosas, five sheaths.
They are:
1- annamayakosa food sheath,
2- pranamayakosa vital-air
sheath
3- manomayakosa mental
sheath,
4- vijnanamayakosa intellectual
sheath and
5- anandamayakosa bliss
sheath.
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