Namaste: Encyclopedia II - Namaste - Meanings

Namaste - Meanings

Sanskrit námas means "bow, obeisance, reverential salutation, adoration". te is the dative of the personal pronoun tvam, "you". A literal translation of námas te is thus "reverential salutation to you".

It is commonly accompanied by a slight bow made with the hands pressed together, palms touching, in front of the chest.

In a religious context this word can be taken to mean any of these:

• The Spirit in me meets the same Spirit in you
• I salute the divine in you
• I salute the Light of God in you.
• I bring together my body and soul, focusing my divine potential, and bow to the same potential within you.

In other words, it recognizes the equality of all, and pays honor to the sacredness of all.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Meanings", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki