What does Namaskar mean?
NAMASKAR is a Sanskrit compound made of three words: NAM + AS + KAR = NAMASKAR NAM is the root form of NAMAH. Namah means “not me;” it is a negation of one’s identity and hence of one’s ego or arrogance. AS means “to Be” or “to exist.” KAR means doer or one who makes or creates. ASKAR refers to “the creator of all that exists or the one who causes the property of being or existence.” Namaskar is the traditional form of greeting in India (joined hands with palms together either at the forehead or at the heart) and is based on the profound philosophy of non-arrogance and being a part of one larger unity. This principle allows a sense of oneness and is the beginning of a harmonious relationship. The joining of hands symbolizes the idea that in the meeting of two persons, the Self actually meets Itself. Joining hands also symbolizes humility. Thus when a person joins the hands and says Namaskar, she or he actually says in humility, “I bow to God in you; I love you and I respect you, as the
