The Indian Salutation...Originally derived from Sanskrit, the word is a result of union of two words... Namha (नमः) and te (ते)
Literally this means "I bow to You" It implies a deeply felt respect for the individual to who is addressed.
Traditionally, the joined hands are placed in front of the chest- at heart level. There appears to be a scientific basis to the greeting.
The words could just as easily signify Na (not) Maha (mine) and signify reducing or negating one's ego when beginning an interaction with someone. We use the same greeting when we greet elders or when we greet equals or even those younger than us. We greet friends like this, and even strangers. And... it is the same when we stand in front of the Lord! We recognise, even though unconsciously, that we are basically same and equal.
That we all have the same Lord in our heart.
That we must look inward to interact well outward.
Often we close our eyes and bow our head in the completion of a respectful salutation- as we do in a temple or even for those elder to us. This humility is quintessentially Indian.
There is also a deeper basis of this gesture- it is an energy grid that we complete around our heart chakra. We form a shield that cannot be penetrated unless we allow it. Till we embrace an unknown figure, we are preserving our energy grid and protecting our Heart (chakra) from intrusions that could potentially be negative. We pay respect, and do so with utter humility not just to the individual in front of us but also treat the one inside of us with utmost reverence and respect.
With the palms joined, we declare that there is oneness, a unity, a Divinity that pervades all life. The Lord in me is the Lord in you. I Bow to all that is Divine in you. Humbly. I protect whatever is Divine in me. Tenaciously.
Often in India, we would find people speaking out the Lord's names with the greeting- Ram, Ram or Jai Shri Krishna- further emphasising the Divine that MUST interact. And it is this Divine that MUST also preserve the Divine in each individual and demolish the negativity and the Anti- Divine in any individual.
When we bow down further in front of our elders and touch their feet, they place their hands on our heads. This special form of greeting from a younger to an older individual completes an energy grid that transfers the energy from the older to the younger. When you touch their feet, you allow their energy that is flowing into the Mother Earth, to be diverted to yourself. When they place their hands on your head, they seal this energy transfer, not allowing any leakage from the top of the head.
Indeed, Indian salutations are unique! And worthy of all the respect they generate!
