Wishesh magazine february 2018 Wishesh magazine february 2018 | Page 35

greeting is Sat Sri Akal.
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.
Difference Between
“Namaskar” or
Namastay and
“Pranama”
Pranama (Sanskrit ‘Pra’
and ‘Anama’) is a respectful
salutation among Hindus.
It literally means “bowing
forward” in reverence for a
deity or an elder.
Namaskar is one
of the six types of
Pranamas:
1- Ashtanga (Ashta=eight;
Anga=body parts): Touching
the ground with knees, belly,
chest, hands, elbows, chin,
nose, and temple.
2- Shastanga
(Shashta=six; Anga=body
parts): Touching the ground with
toes, knees, hands, chin, nose,
and temple.
3- Panchanga
(Pancha=five; Anga=body
parts): Touching the ground with
knees, chest, chin, temple, and
forehead.
4- Dandavat (Dand=stick):
Bowing the forehead down and
touching the ground.
5- Abhinandana
(Congratulations to you):
Bending forward with folded
hands touching the chest.
6- Namaskar (Bowing to
you). The same as doing a
Namaste with folded hands and
touching the forehead.
FEBRUARY 2018 | WWW.WISHESH.NET