When we utter the word yoga, the first impression in most people’s minds is of yogic postures or asanas. For such has been the advertisement of yoga in our society. 

It is not wrong as well but a limited understanding. 

The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit root word ‘yuj,’ which means to connect. 

When we study the Vedic scriptures and literature, we understand that yoga intends to connect to spirit, God, or eternal reality. 

There are a few classical methods of yoga which are well known and practiced for centuries:

– Karma yoga or using your day-to-day actions to surrender and connect to the divine without a sense of proprietorship. 

– Jñana Yoga or using one’s intelligence to connect with the eternal spirit intellectually. 

– Bhakti yoga: the sweetest, if not always the easiest, but the most rewarding as per historical evidence (lives of saints like: Tulsidas, Nanak Dev, Surdas,  Mirabai, Shri Chaitanya, Tukaram, etc.). Here one makes use of human emotions of love and gratitude to connect to a manifest form of the divine absolute truth. 

– Hatha Yoga: Using a set of postures (asanas) and regulated breathing practices, known as Pranayama, to channelize vital energy for connecting deeply with our mind, body, and spirit. 

All these practices are beneficial, effective and produce tremendous results in a practitioner’s life if learned and practiced under the guidance of an able teacher. 

There is also another simple, sweet, effective form of yoga. It is popular, known to all, but only sometimes performed consciously– the act of bringing our palms together near the heart center in a Namaskar mudra or gesture. 

SIMPLY EFFECTIVE

What is simple is often overlooked, isn’t that the case with us?

It is a curiously strange reality that our minds gravitate towards what seems esoteric and complicated than something simple and easy. 

Societal conditioning has led us to believe that it may not be worth it if it is easy. 

That is not always true. 

Even a simple practice of putting your palms together near the heart center in a namaskar mudra can have a transformational impact not just for the one doing it but also for the one being the recipient. 

Stop reading for a few moments. Consciously bring your palms together in Namaste near the heart and observe how it makes you feel. Stay in the mudra for ten to fifteen seconds. 

Please go on; try it. 

Observe how you feel.

Feels good, no? 

MHYTH AND FACTS

There are a few misconceptions associated with Namaskar like:

1. You only offer it to an elder

2. It is a sign of formality

3. To the colonized mind, it may feel superfluous or archaic 

4. It is meant to be practiced only by followers of the Vedic religion.

None of the above holds. 

Yes, Namaskar is a contribution of Vedic dharma, but it is not meant to be restricted by nationality, faith, or geography. 

Namaskar can signify so many things. For instance:

1. It is a gesture of gratitude towards any being— animate or inanimate. Regardless of age, gender, or identity, Namaskar is an offering or gesture expressing awe, reverence, or simply our gratitude to another. A conscious being can even bow down to every object that they bring in use— be it a gadget, a vehicle, or even the water tap. You can bow down to anyone rendering a service— the barista or the server, cabin crew, sweeper, cleaner, parking attendant, or even a family member younger than you. There is simply no distinction. 

2. Namaskar brings in a union between Shiva and Shakti, masculine and feminine, yin and yang— the complimentary energies within every human being. 

3. You would have observed we communicate not just with words but also with our body language. Often bodily gestures, tonality, etc., can impact others more than our words themselves. Namaskar is a powerful non-verbal communication that indicates humility, respect, and empathy towards another.  

4. During the Covid-19 pandemic, we observed how the Namaskar was suggested as a preferred greeting for the safety and well-being of self and others. 

5. The spiritual significance of the gesture and the intention behind it is to recognize the source of divinity, light, and the source of life within the other. It helps us overcome our biases concerning differences in gender, nationality, religion, material status, race, etc.

MY EXPERIENCES 

There was a time even I used to feel this gesture of Namaskar was solely reserved for either elders or the divine. 

I think subconsciously using the Anjali Mudra (the yogic terminology of Namaste) in the yoga practices or observing my teachers made it a natural practice in my day-to-day life.

I have also noticed how an expression of gratitude naturally accompanies the Anjali mudra. That is how I have built a practice of inculcating the Anjali mudra in my daily life. 

Through the blessings and inspiration derived from the teachings of Shri Krishna and my gurus, I have learned gratitude is as essential for life as food and water. 

I also noticed how I feel more reverence towards another human being (or anything) when I assume the Anjali Mudra. It helps tremendously when tempers are running high, haha. Surprisingly, I have witnessed how I avoid using harsh words when assuming this gesture. 

More than anything else, I have noticed how good it makes me feel. I don’t know what impact it may have on the recipient of a namaskar; I certainly feel more at ease, centered, and connected to my essence and spirit. 

Trend It

I heard this popular song when I was a kid sung by Narendra Chanchal, ‘Hello-hi, choriye, Jai Mata Di boliye.’ 

It means drop your hi and hello and replace them with greeting people by glorifying the divine mother. 

I say, do not drop the ‘hi and hellos’, the handshakes and hugs— all of which are also important. 

Glorifying Namaste (or any one thing) does not mean we are against the other greetings. My intention here is to suggest that adopting Namaste alongside our preferred greeting can bring more harmony, love, and acceptance amongst us. 

More than ever, in a world that often feels divided, we need gestures like Namaste that promote unity and respect for one another. Whether you’re greeting a friend, family member, or a stranger, a Namaste can bring a moment of serenity, acknowledging the divine in each one of us.

Let’s embrace this beautifully profound practice. Start small – perhaps by introducing it into your morning routine or using it as a gesture of gratitude towards someone who helped you. You might be surprised by the shifts it can bring in your perception and the positivity it brings to your relationships.

Thank you for reading until the end of the piece. 

Assuming the Anjali Mudra as an offering of gratitude to the reader as soon as I finish typing this out,

Kushagra