You Indians use "Namastê" in order to greet people?
We occidental people who study Yoga learn that "Namastê" is a greet to salute people and it means "The god inside me greet the god inside you". We use it in our Yoga classes, giving a hug, touching chest with chest, heart with heart.
But, is it old-fashioned or do you really use that day by day?
Does it have a social meaning or does it have the same meaning from old ages?
Namaste. The very act of joining hands as in prayer, and bringing it to chest level as one bows slighltly with a slight tilt of the head, is always done with reverence and deference.
The traditional Indian greeting is simultanesously a personal recognition of the Other -- and an impersonal one, in the sense that there is NO bodily contact between the person greeting and the person being greeted. There is generally a slight reserve always accompanying the greeting, since it is deeply respectful and slightly formal, although the same gesture can be full of affection as well despite this reserve, as when you greet elders in the family.
In the South, the word is Namaskaram, when the gesture of palms meeting as if in prayer, is used. Sometimes the word Vannakkam is used with the gesture to signify welcome. The rules of etiquette are pretty much the same though, as above.
I also suspect (someone else can verify this) that in the South, Namaskaram is less of a social greeting than it is an abbreviated or quicker version of the actual obeisances paid to the greeted person. The Shashtang Namaskaram or Dandavat, is where the person falls/lies prostrate on the floor and joins palms at the feet of the person shown respect to. In lieu of doing this each time for paying obeisances, I suspect the easier version of remaining standing while joining palms and saying the word "Namaskaram" has evolved and become acceptable as the same gesture. However, with parents, elders and before Deities, and in all auspicious occasions, the prostrate posture is the norm. Here is the gesture of seeking blessings rather than greeting.
In Bengal, and some other parts of the country. the word is 'Pranam" and the full gesture, "Sadat Pranam".
All this stated to show you that "You Indians..." as you say, do not all subscribe to the "Namaste'... which as another reader pointed out, is more of a Hindi greeting with connotations.
On the matter of the Namaste, the accompaniment to the greeting as mentioned by you... from "giving a hug... onwards... is alien to Indian etiquette.and the Indian way of thinking. Your description, therefore, can only be understood as a Western twist and addition -- to a form of greeting that is ancient and traditional in Indian culture.
It appears not all Yoga classes in the West teach everything 100 percent Indian.
NAMASTÈ नमस्ते
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