Namaste

Namaste (/ˈnɑːməsteɪ/, NAH-məs-tay; Hindi/Nepali: नमस्ते Hindi: [nəməsteː]), NAH-məs-tay), sometimes spoken as Namaskar, Namaskaram, Namaskara or Vanakkam, is a respectful form of greeting in Hindu custom, found on the Indian Subcontinent mainly in India and Nepal and among the Indian diaspora. It is used both for salutation and valediction.Namaste is usually spoken with a slight bow and hands pressed together, palms touching and fingers pointing upwards, thumbs close to the chest. This gesture is called Añjali Mudrā or Pranamasana. In Hinduism it means "I bow to the divine in you". The greeting may also be spoken without the gesture or the gesture performed wordlessly, carrying the same meaning.

Etymology, meaning and origins

Namaste (Namas + te, Devanagari: नमस् + ते = नमस्ते) is derived from Sanskrit and is a combination of the word namaḥ and the enclitic 2nd person singular pronoun te. The word namaḥ takes the Sandhi form namas before the sound t.

Namaḥ means 'bow', 'obeisance', 'reverential salutation' or 'adoration' and te means 'to you' (dative case). Therefore, Namaste literally means "bowing to you".