Namaste is a greeting and salute typical of South Asia, which means "I salute you", in the Portuguese translation.
This term is used mainly in India and Nepal by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists. In Indian and Nepali cultures, the word is said at the beginning of a communication and a gesture is made with folded hands, without having to say anything.
The more formal form of namaste is known as namask or namaskaara, however, all forms have a meaning of extreme respect.
Etymologically, namaste is a word originating in Sanskrit, which literally means "I bow to you" and it's the way most worthy of fulfillment from one human being to another.
In a broader sense, namaste means "the God who dwells in my heart, greets the God who dwells in your heart."
The gesture expresses a great feeling of respect, invokes the perception that all individuals share the same essence, of the same energy, of the same universe, so the term and the action have a very pacifying force. intense.
Namaste is also widely used in yoga, it is something that is said to the instructor, to demonstrate that the practitioner is a servant.
Learn more about the meaning of yoga.
As a greeting, namaste can be said with the hands clasped in front of the chest and with a slight bow, to indicate deep respect, one can place the hands in front of the forehead, and in the case of reverence to a god or holiness, place the hand completely above the head.
In some parts of India (for example, the area where the language is spoken punjab), namaste is used not only for greeting Hindus, but for everyone.
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