Changes

==Origin==

==Origin==

'''Namaste''' is derived from [[Sanskrit]] and is a combination of two [[words]], "''Namaḥ''" and "''te''." ''Namaḥ'' means '[[bow]],' 'obeisance,' '[[reverential]] salutation' or '[[adoration]]' and ''te'' means 'to you' (dative case of 'you'). Therefore, Namaste [[literally]] means "bow to you," [[translated]] as "I bow to you."'[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namaskar Namaskar]' is derived from [[Sanskrit]] and is a combination of the two words, "''Namaḥ''" and "''kaar''." As noted above, "Namaḥ" is a salutation. "Kaar" means '[[form]]' or 'shape' and refers to the [[phenomenon]] that the other [[entity]] (person) presents. Thus, the older salutation [[essentially]] means "I salute [your] form," which implies an [[understanding]] that all beings in this [[existence]] are part of the surface phenomena of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya Maya] and that beyond the [[surface]], so to say, all beings are part of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahman Brahman], or the One [[ultimate]] [[essence]] that underlies all.

'''Namaste''' is derived from [[Sanskrit]] and is a combination of two [[words]], "''Namaḥ''" and "''te''." ''Namaḥ'' means '[[bow]],' 'obeisance,' '[[reverential]] salutation' or '[[adoration]]' and ''te'' means 'to you' (dative case of 'you'). Therefore, Namaste [[literally]] means "bow to you," [[translated]] as "I bow to you."'[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namaskar Namaskar]' is derived from [[Sanskrit]] and is a combination of the two words, "''Namaḥ''" and "''kaar''." As noted above, "Namaḥ" is a salutation. "Kaar" means '[[form]]' or 'shape' and refers to the [[phenomenon]] that the other [[entity]] (person) presents. Thus, the older salutation [[essentially]] means "I salute [your] form," which implies an [[understanding]] that all beings in this [[existence]] are part of the surface phenomena of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya Maya] and that beyond the [[surface]], so to say, all beings are part of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahman Brahman], or the One [[ultimate]] [[essence]] that underlies all.

==Description==

==Description==

''Namaskar''/''Namaskaram'') is a common spoken valediction or [[salutation]] originating from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_subcontinent Indian subcontinent]. It is a customary greeting when [[individuals]] meet, and a valediction upon their parting. A non-contact form of salutation is traditionally preferred in India and Nepal; '''Namaste''' is the most common form of such a salutation.

''Namaskar''/''Namaskaram'') is a common spoken valediction or [[salutation]] originating from the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_subcontinent Indian subcontinent]. It is a customary greeting when [[individuals]] meet, and a valediction upon their parting. A non-contact form of salutation is traditionally preferred in India and Nepal; '''Namaste''' is the most common form of such a salutation.

When spoken to another person, it is commonly accompanied by a slight [[bow]] made with hands pressed together, palms [[touching]] and fingers pointed upwards, in front of the chest. This [[gesture]], called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%C3%B1jali_Mudr%C4%81 ''Añjali Mudrā''] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pran%C4%81ma ''Pranamasana''], can also be performed wordlessly and carries the same [[meaning]].

When spoken to another person, it is commonly accompanied by a slight [[bow]] made with hands pressed together, palms [[touching]] and fingers pointed upwards, in front of the chest. This [[gesture]], called [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%C3%B1jali_Mudr%C4%81 ''Añjali Mudrā''] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pran%C4%81ma ''Pranamasana''], can also be performed wordlessly and carries the same [[meaning]].

As it is most commonly used, ''namaste'' is roughly equivalent to "greetings" or "good day," in [[English]], implicitly with the connotation "to be well". As opposed to shaking hands, [[kissing]] or [[embracing]] each other in other [[cultures]], ''Namaste'' is a non-contact form of [[respectful]] greeting and can be used universally while meeting a person of different [[gender]], age or [[social status]].

As it is most commonly used, ''namaste'' is roughly equivalent to "greetings" or "good day," in [[English]], implicitly with the connotation "to be well". As opposed to shaking hands, [[kissing]] or [[embracing]] each other in other [[cultures]], ''Namaste'' is a non-contact form of [[respectful]] greeting and can be used universally while meeting a person of different [[gender]], age or [[social status]].

The [[gesture]] ''Namaste'' [[represents]] the [[belief]] that there is a [[ta|Divine spark]] within each of us that is located in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_chakra heart chakra]. The gesture is an acknowledgment of [[the soul]] in one by the soul in another. In [[Sanskrit]] the word is ''namah'' + ''te'' = namaste (Devnagari/Hindi: नमः + ते = नमस्ते) which means “I bow to you” - my greetings, salutations or prostration to you. Namaskār (Devnagari/Hindi: नमस्कार) literally means "I bow to [your] form".

The [[gesture]] ''Namaste'' [[represents]] the [[belief]] that there is a [[ta|Divine spark]] within each of us that is located in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_chakra heart chakra]. The gesture is an acknowledgment of [[the soul]] in one by the soul in another. In [[Sanskrit]] the word is ''namah'' + ''te'' = namaste (Devnagari/Hindi: नमः + ते = नमस्ते) which means “I bow to you” - my greetings, salutations or prostration to you. Namaskār (Devnagari/Hindi: नमस्कार) literally means "I bow to [your] form".

[[Category: Anthropology]]

[[Category: Anthropology]]