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The Invisible Arm of ‘Namaste’

Kamlesh Tripathi

    If you do not know how to greet, offer a namaste. If words fail you in the introduction, offer a namaste. A wise man once said, for a learned man, no land is alien. Just as with folded hands in a namaste, no person remains a stranger. Namaste softens the rigid edges of ego. It is an invisible arm, gently soothing the pride of another, opening doors to harmony, setting the tone for an amicable meeting. Namaste is usually spoken with a slight bow with hands pressed together, palms touching each other, and fingers pointing upwards, and thumbs close to the chest.  

    More than a greeting, it is a gesture of reverence. A silent acknowledgement of dignity, a language beyond speech. It carries a spiritual whisper: “I bow to the divine in you.” Echoing the timeless wisdom of the Rigveda and resonating through the verses of the Mahabharata.

     The gesture of folding hands during a namaste is called the Anjali Mudra. In addition to namaste, this mudra is one of the postures found in Indian classical dance, such as Bharatanatyam. It is also found in Hindu temples, mandapams and in yoga practice. In moments of tension, on a crowded street, and in rising anger, a simple namaste can dissolve conflicts, turning discord into friendship. With a gentle bow and folded hands, known as the sacred Anjali Mudra, palms unite, fingers rise, and the heart speaks through silence. Namaste is derived from Sanskrit, namas (bow) and te (to you). It means, simply and profoundly, “I bow to you.” And within that simplicity lies a universe of respect, humility, connection, and peace. In a world searching for understanding, perhaps the answer lies not in words, but in a quiet, graceful namaste. Excavations in the Indus Valley Civilisation sites have found male and female terracotta figures in Anjali Mudra-like postures, doing a namaste. 

    “The light in me honours the light in you,” says Deepak Chopra, the new age guru. One of the most insightful interpretations of namaste comes from renowned English author Aldous Huxley, who explored Indian spirituality deeply. In works like The Perennial Philosophy, he reflects on the idea that the divine resides within every individual, an idea closely aligned with the spirit of namaste.

    According to professor and sociologist Holly Oxhandler, namaste is a Hindu term which means “the sacred in me recognises the sacred in you”. E. M. Forster, in his novel ‘A Passage to India’, captures the subtleties of Indian manners and gestures. While he doesn’t formally analyse namaste, his portrayal of respectful distance, non-contact greetings, and cultural sensitivity reflects the ethos underlying it. Likewise, German Spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle speaks of recognising the “presence” or consciousness in others, again, philosophically mirroring the meaning of namaste.

    Even historians and Indologists writing in English, such as Stephen H. Phillips, have analysed the word namaste, linguistically and culturally, explaining how it conveys reverence, humility, and a subtle acknowledgement of the divine. So while namaste is rooted in Sanskrit and Indian tradition, its essence has been widely described in English, not always by name, but through ideas of inner divinity, humility, and universal respect.

        I bow not to form, nor name, nor face, but to the silent light in your inner space. Thus, namaste speaks what words cannot declare. It is a gratitude to each soul, irrespective of its flair. Namaste is a respectful form of greeting, acknowledging and welcoming a relative, guest or stranger. In some contexts, namaste is used by one person to express gratitude for assistance offered or given, and to thank the other person for their generous kindness.

    Since namaste is a non-contact form of greeting, some world leaders adopted the gesture as an alternative to handshaking during the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic as a means to prevent the spread of the virus.

Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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