Why Should You Say Namaste Instead of Shaking Hands?

Namaskar or Namaste is a form of greeting someone mostly practiced in our country, India while both meeting and parting. The hand posture while greeting Namaste is known as Namaskar mudra. You hold both the hands together with the palms touching and the fingers pointing upwards and your head slightly bow with hands held near your chest. While doing this you say either Namaste or namaskar. Since childhood we were always taught to say Namaste or namaskar to our relatives or elders instead of shaking hands while at school we learnt to shake hands and say ‘hello’. Even our professional life doesn’t allow us to say Namaste; of course we should continue the same in our professional lives. So, why are we here telling you that you should greet with a Namaste instead of the regular shaking hands method? Keep reading and by the end of this post, you’ll be convinced to greet Namaste next time.

Namaste is a well-known Sanskrit word which is a composition of two words which are ‘namas’ and ‘te’ which we hardly observe. Here ‘namas’ means ‘bow’ and ‘te’ means ‘to you’. So, ‘namste’ means ‘I bow to you out of respect’.

What do you do while saying Namaste? You cannot just say namste but the mudra comes out automatically. You join your hands and then hold them near your chest where your Anahata chakra is located, the chakra which is linked to love and which is the connection between the God and you.

What Does ‘Namaste’ or ‘Namaskar’ Means?

We’ve discussed what ‘namaste’ means above. Both the words ‘namaste’ and ‘namaskar’ are similar but there’s a slight spiritual difference between these two. The word ‘namaskar’ was derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Namaha’. We all know that there exists the Divine called soul or atma within us. Greeting with a namaskar means a soul is acknowledging another soul. ‘Namaskar’ is more divine or sattvik when compared to the word ‘namaste’.

The Science Behind Namaste

There’s always science behind everything in this world and the science behind a Namaste is quite interesting too. While joining hands to greet someone, you exert some pressure on your fingertips. The nerves in your fingertips are then connected with the nerve endings of your eyes, ears and a part of your brain which is responsible for creating long-term memories in it. By joining hands, you are activating these pressure points that help you to remember the name, face and other details of that person you are greeting.

More over you’re also activating your anahata chakra that transmits positive energy to the one you’re greeting. Plus Namaste makes us form different yoga mudras like vrikshasana or the tree pose and virabhadrasana or the warrior pose as all your chakras are balanced through different poses.

How To Say ‘Namaste’ The Right Way?

- First you need to stand straight and bring your both the hands close by bending your elbows.
- Now join your hands such a way that your palms touch each other and your fingertips point upwards.
- Bring your hands close to your chest right in the middle of it.
- Slightly bend and bow your head, and say ‘Namaste’.


Benefits of ‘Namaste’ or ‘Namaskar’

Since you’re greeting the Divine one in the person, it attracts the divine consciousness or chaitanya; it makes you surrender and helps in your spiritual growth. It helps in destroying your ego and increase humility.

With this mudra, you’re absorbing a greater level of divine consciousness or chaitanya into your body and with the word ‘namaste’ or ‘namaskar’ the Absolute Ether Principle or Akash tattva is being invoked. But when you’re doing both the mudra and saying Namaste, another element, the Absolute Earth Principle or Pruthvi tattva is being invoked since the mudra is associated with this tattva itself. When all the five Absolute Cosmic Principles are invoked, more positivity is attracted towards you.
Physical contact makes easy for the energies to flow easily from one person to another. As there’s no physical contact in this form of greeting, there’s less chance of getting negative energies transferred to you.

What Is The Difference Between ‘Namaskar’ and ‘Pranama’?

Pranama consists of two words which are ‘Pra’ and ‘Anama’; this is a respectful salutation to someone which means ‘bowing forward’. Do you know that there are 6 types of ‘Pranamas’ among which ‘Namaskar’ is one of them?

Here are those 6 types.

1. Ashtanga Pranama:

Ashtanga consists of two words which are ‘Ashta’ and ‘Anga’ which means you are using 8 body parts to do this pranama by touching the ground with your knees, belly, hands, chest, elbows, temple, nose and chin. We usually do this to the God or Diety.

2. Shashtanga Pranama:

This consists of the words ‘Shashta’ and ‘Anga’ which means 6 body parts are used to do this pranama. You touch the ground with your toes, hands, knees, chin, nose and temple. This is also done only to the God.


3. Panchanga Pranama:

‘Pancha’ and ‘Anga’ are the words that form Panchanga Pranama which involves the usage of 5 body parts. You touch the ground with your knees, chest, chin, forehead and temple.

4. Dandavat Pranama:

Here ‘Danda’ means stick and you bow the forehead down to touch the ground.

5. Abhinandana:
This means congratulations where you bend forward touching the chest with your folded hands.

6. Namaskar:
And here comes ‘Namaskar’ which you do the same way a ‘Namaste’.

Remember:

While saying ‘namaste’ never hold any object in your hands since your hands and fingertips aren’t straight at this time. So, the flow of the sattva component doesn’t enter your finger tips and instead strikes object bouncing back. Moreover if the object you’re holding is Raja-tama predominant, and if it is touching your forehead or your chest while greeting, then the Raja-tama predominant components may inter the one who is doing the namaskar.

With this I’d like to conclude hoping you’ll practice greeting people the desi style or the spiritual way. Try it and see the positiveness around you.

So, why should you say Namaste instead of shaking hands?