Namaste is an expression of appreciation and respect towards another person, entity or deity. It can be used as a hello greeting and even as a goodbye, so you might say Namaste upon meeting someone, or before parting ways.
In Hindi and a number of other languages derived from Sanskrit, namaste is basically a respectful way of saying hello and also goodbye. Today, namaste has been adopted into the English language, along with other words from non-English sources. Many words, when borrowed, keep their spelling but acquire new meanings.
“In my personal experience living in India and with my elders and family here in the U.S., Namaste or Namaskar is said when I meet and greet an elder. Not when I leave,” writes Susanna Barkataki, author of Embrace Yoga's Roots: Courageous Ways to Deepen Your Yoga Practice.
It's a Sanskrit phrase that means "I bow to you." You place hands together at the heart, close your eyes and bow.
Namaste in the context of deity worship, scholars conclude, has the same function as in greeting a guest or anyone else. It expresses politeness, courtesy, honor, and hospitality from one person to the other. It is used in goodbyes as well.
Basic Hello
This is the traditional way of saying hello and goodbye in Hindi. Namaste can be used at any time of the day. You may also hear some people say namaskar (nam-as-scar) which can be used interchangeably with namaste.
In many parts of India and during formal occasions, it is common for people to greet with the traditional Hindu greeting of “Namaste” ('I greet the divine within you'). This is accompanied with a nod of the head or a bow depending on the status of the person you are greeting.
Correct response to Namaste is saying back Namaste to the other person. It's a Hindi word for saying “ Hello” or greeting some person older than you. Usually, When relatives come to your house or we meet them in parties or functions, we greet them by saying “ Namaste”.
Namaste (nah-mah-stay) is a Sanskrit word that means “I bow to you.” Namah or Namas translates to “bow,” while Te means “to you.” In Indian culture and Buddhist and Hindu belief systems, namaste is a respectful greeting or salutation and a sign of deferential respect and goodwill.
Namaskar and Namaste are both Hindu terms that mean respect. Although used interchangeably, there is a slight difference between the two. While Namaskar is a more formal way of showing respect, Namaste is a more informal expression.
“Namaste” is a combination of words derived from Sanskrit that mean “I bow to you.” It is a noncontact form of greeting, as opposed to hugging or shaking hands. It is quite proper if a person from a different culture uses this form of salutation to another person, Hindu or non-Hindu.
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The most respectful greetings are formal ones like "hello," or time-related greetings like "good morning" or "good evening." To make it even more respectful, add the listener's formal title afterwards, like "hello, Mr. or Mrs. ______," or even "hello, sir or ma'am."
Literally translated, namaste means, “The Divine within me bows to the same Divine within you.” And despite its conciseness, this one word encompasses the essential teachings of Hinduism.
The Spiritual Meaning Of Namaste
Namaste is acknowledging the soul and paying respects to it. In fact, the act of Namaste recognizes and respects the spirit of one by the soul of another. Namaste wholly means—“I honor the place in you which is of love, truth, light, and peace.”, “I bow to the divine in you.”
Namaste can indirectly be understood to mean peace. Namaste is a greeting and one translation is: “The divine in me honors the divine in you.” And so whether you want to perceive it in a religious form or not, the deeper meaning of the word Namaste means peace and equality. I bow to you.
Religious and secular culture come together in the increasing use of namaste (pronounced \NAH-muh-stay\) in English: the term is associated with both Hinduism and yoga. The word comes from Sanskrit and literally means “bowing to you” or “I bow to you,” and is used as a greeting.
Namaste – is the traditional way of greeting people that has been in practice for so long across most local traditions of the Indian heritage. To greet someone in this fashion, you just have to join both the palms together in a worshipful pose and say 'Namaste'.
According to the Hindu customs, Namaste has a spiritual meaning too. Hindus believe that 'the divine and soul is the same in everybody'. So when you say Namaste to someone, it implies 'I bow to the divine in you'. This gesture is also associated with the Brow Chakra, i.e. the mind center or the third eye.
Meeting and Greeting
Westerners may shake hands, however, greeting with 'namaste' (na-mas-TAY) (placing both hands together with a slight bow) is appreciated and shows respect for Indian customs. Men shake hands with men when meeting or leaving.
Use "shukriyaa" (शुक्रिया) as your standard informal thank-you. This is a very common way of giving thanks in Hindi, but it's not very formal. This means you should use it mainly for your friends and family.
Ciao (/tʃaʊ/ CHOW, Italian: [ˈtʃaːo] ( listen)) is an informal salutation in the Italian language that is used for both "hello" and "goodbye". Originally from the Venetian language, it has entered the vocabulary of English and of many other languages around the world.
Good morning, Good afternoon, or Good evening
These are formal ways of saying “hello”, which change depending on the time of day. Keep in mind that “good night” is only used to say “good bye”, so if you meet someone late in the day, remember to greet them with “good evening”, rather than “good night”.