Namaste Meaning: Honor Your Light

The namaste greeting is known all around the world. But what does namaste mean exactly? Find out all about this word and mudra in our blog!

You have probably heard this greeting in the yoga studio or read it in one of our other Blogs. It looks like a normal casual greeting, but the meaning of namaste is actually much deeper than that. Read on to find out more!

Namaste Origin

Both the word Namaste and the Mudra (hand gesture) are thousands of years old and originate from Hinduism.  You’ve surely seen the Anjali Mudra, where you press your hands together in front of your heart. It almost always accompanies the greeting.  But did you know that there are terracotta statues of this mudra that are 5000 years old? While the modern word pronounced ‘Namasté’ is fairly new, variations have existed for probably as long as the mudra. A well known example is Namas-krita from the Rigveda which dates all the way back to 1900 BCE, so almost 4000 years! Today Namaste is not only used within Hinduism, it is a polite greeting across South East Asia. Because of its many layers of meaning, Buddhists often use namaste as a greeting to express respect. 

The Literal Namaste Translation

So what does  namaste mean in English? As we’ve seen, the word Namasté has its origin in Sanskrit. Here we can split the word into two different words: ‘namas’ and ‘té’. Literally translated, ‘namas’ would mean ‘to bow’. ‘Té’ means ‘for you’ in Sanskrit. If you put this together, you can easily understand that namaste means ‘I bow to you’. There is more to Namaste than just a simple way to say hello. Let’s find out more about the different layers of meaning Namaste can have!

Namaste Definition In Yoga 

If you do yoga, you are certainly familiar with this term. Among yoga practitioners, Namaste is a kind of general greeting. For those who not only practice yoga as movement, but also as meditation, Namaste is more than that. It is a peaceful message you send out into the universe, hoping for positive energy in return. Many yogis also use Namaste as a way to thank the yoga teacher at the end of the lesson. Because of its peaceful and respectful meaning, it often feels like a natural conclusion of the lesson. When the teacher says  ‘Namasté’ to the class, you could make a slight bow and say it back, but you don’t have to do this out loud! Even without words it keeps its meaning through the Anjali Mudra. But is “thank you” or “see you next time” the most important meaning? No, not at all!

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Namaste: India and Nepal

On the streets of India and Nepal, Namaste can be seen all around you. If you were to walk around for a day, you wouldn’t hear people saying good morning to each other, like we do in Europe. Instead, you see people making small bows of their heads, while pressing their palms together. It’s a very common and respectful way to greet others. With Namaste you show recognition for the  soul of another by taking a moment to reflect on their essence. 

Greeting Others with Namaste

As you can see, Namaste is a widely used greeting and is not specifically intended for yoga class. However, the meaning we give it during yoga class is somewhat similar to the common greeting. The small bow we make during this gesture is not to show any kind of submission, but equality and respect. It’s meant as a type of unity and balance between people. What makes this greeting different from a regular ‘hello’ is that you not only acknowledge the presence of the other person’s body, you show respect for their essence!

How to Say and Sign Namaste

Sounds special, right? The Namaste greeting may mean a lot more than you first thought. We can imagine that you would also like to know how to use it the right way. Place your hands together so that your palms touch and place your thumbs against your sternum. It is important that your fingers point upwards and your head bends slightly forward. Keep the shoulders as low as possible, dropping away from the ears. Many people believe that in this mudra, the left hand symbolizes the moon and the right hand the sun. You literally have the universe in your hands!

Namaste and the Heart Chakra

Namaste is a beautiful spiritual gesture. Not only because it lets you connect with just about anyone for a brief moment, but also because it would send out special vibrations to the universe. You send positive energy to the person you are greeting, which is thought to let in a special type of happiness from the universe. It is also said that the heart chakras connect with each other during this greeting. Wow!

Namaste as an Expression of Gratitude

After the yoga class you would also say with Namaste.  It symbolizes that you were completely in the here and now during the class, connected to your teacher and other students with your heart chakra open. Hopefully this helped you to see the essence of yourself and of the others. Saying Namaste and doing the Anjali Mudra is a way to show that you are thankful for this experience.  This expression of gratitude shows that you are honoring the energy you and your teacher have put into the lesson.

Namaste’s Deep Meaning

As we have seen, the literal meaning of Namaste is ‘I bow to you’.  For many, this definition  doesn’t  express all of the depth that this hand gesture and greeting really hold. Rather than a literal translation many people express the true namaste meaning in English as ‘The light in me sees the light in you’ or ‘My soul honors your soul.’ With this you can show that you really see the other person and reflect on the deeper layers of their existence. You see more than a human body, but also a source of love and energy. You also honor yourself by indicating that you carry this light within yourself too. It is a recognition that everything is connected.Really nice, isn’t it?

More Hinduism and Buddhism

Now you know all about the deep meaning of Namaste! Are you curious about more meaningful mantras from Buddhism and Hinduism? Then read all about the Ohm Symbol Explained: Cosmic Forces in Sacred Sounds, or  Om Mani Padme Hum: What Does it Mean? You could even check out other symbols that are common in both Hinduism and Buddhism like the Lotus Flower: Discover the Meaning of This Spiritual Jewel. There are plenty of spiritual symbols to discover at Spiru!