Namaskar is a beautiful Mudra. While performing this Mudra, the 5 elements or pancha tatvas represented through the 5 fingers get together to work in a balanced way. It aids for Prana and Vital energy circulation, thus giving a peace of mind and compassion.
This Mudra plays a vital role in Indian culture and tradition. It is found to be in existence since 4000 years. It is most widely used in India only.
In Sanskrit, “Namaskar” is called “Namaste/ Vandanam/ Anjali”.
“Namaha” means to respect one’s own atma/ soul. “Namas” means being Modest/ humble. “Te” means thou/ to you.
“Namaste” means “A humble respect to thou”.
Benefits of practicing Namaskar:
- Namaskar improves love
- Namaskar improves punctuality
- Namaskar gives good blessing
- Namaskar teaches us to respect others
- Namaskar gives good thoughts
- Namaskar teaches us the good culture/ samskar
- Namaskar reduces anger
- Namaskar reduces sadness
- Namaskar is a good culture which improves ones value
Classification of Namaskar Mudras:
Anjali Mudra/ Namaskar Mudra: When the hands are placed near Heart/ Hridayam in Namaskar position this Mudra is formed. This Mudra activates Hridaya chakra/ Anahatha chakra, thus improving the positive qualities like love, affection, responsiveness etc. Scientifically Thymus gland at the heart gets activated improving immunity and removing negative thoughts. This Mudra eliminates the Ahamkaara/ ego. This Mudra is used to welcome someone or while thanking someone.
Agra Mudra: While sitting in Vajrasan, stretching both the hands forward and placing them in Namaskar position forms this Mudra. This Mudra also strengthens the shoulders.
Kailasa Mudra: For this Mudra, both the hands are placed on head in Namaskar position. It activates Sahasrara Chakra.
Govinda Mudra: To form this Mudra, both the hands are placed on head and stretched forming Namaskar position. It activates Visuddha and Sahasrara chakras.
Sashtanga Mudra/ Ashtanga Mudra: Sa + Ashta + Anga; Sa = Sahitha (including), Ashta=Eight; Anga=Organs. Sashtanga Namaskar is one among many ways of performing Namaskar. Sashtanga means to perform Namaskar with 8 organs/ limbs of a human. It is also called as “Dandakara Namaskar”, meaning to lie down on the floor like a fallen stick. In a temple salutation to God is made by lying down on prawn posture and touching 8 organs to the floor in this Namaskar. It in turn has the following Mudras:
- Ushassu Namaskara Mudra: Touching the chest to ground
- Sirassu Namaskara Mudra: Touching the forehead to ground
- Drishti Namaskara Mudra: Saluting to God with eyes closed
- Manassu Namaskara Mudra: Saluting to God with whole heartedness
- Vaachas Namaskara Mudra: Saluting to god through words or chanting
- Padbhyaam Namaskara Mudra: Touching the toes to ground
- Karaabhyaam Namaskara Mudra: Touching the hands to ground
- Jaanubhyaam Namaskara Mudra: Touching the knees to ground
Panchanga Mudra (Only for Ladies): According to the Sastras (Spiritual sciences), Ladies must not perform Sashtanga Namaskar Mudra, because their chest region must not touch the ground. Hence they are eligible to do only Panchanga Namaskar Mudra. Starting with Vajrasan posture, both the hands are raised up. Then the upper body is bent forward to touch the forehead to ground by placing hands in Namaskar Mudra just above the head. In this posture, 5 organs touch the ground (feet, knees, elbows, forehead and hands in Namaskar Mudra). Hence it is called Panchanga Namaskar Mudra.
Namaskar Mudra eliminates ego which is hidden inside us. It removes any kind of negativities from our mind. Saluting to elders by bowing down on their feet is called “Paadaabhi Vandanam”. It gives us multi-fold benefits. During family rituals, it is a custom/ tradition to take blessings of elders by touching their feet. Not only in rituals, but whenever we meet elders their blessing are taken by touching the feet.
Why should one touch the feet of elders?
According to Indian culture which is existing since Vedic times, it is a sign of respect to touch the feet of elders. Now-a-days, some feel that touching of feet is unhygienic procedure. However, there are meaningful instructions to follow this practice and it also gives innumerable secret benefits too. To touch the feet of elders, one must let go of their EGO to bow down the head. Bowing down to elders is nothing but respecting their age, knowledge, wisdom, achievements, experiences etc. The words which the elders utter through their thoughts and positive vibrations are very powerful. Upon touching their feet, the youngsters get benefitted by those powerful positive vibrations.
Is there a procedure to touch the feet of elders?
Yes, there is a perfect procedure framed since Vedic times in Indian culture. To touch the feet of elders, one must bow down and place their right hand on left foot. Similarly, the left hand on right foot. Once, both the hands are placed in this way, the elders place their hands to touch our head. This placing of hands will form a closed circuit shape. Once the circuit is formed, their positive energy, knowledge etc. gets transferred into us. At that time, the words which they utter with pure heart results into good blessings.
Elders have gained lot of knowledge, wisdom and experience by being on this earth. Hence, there is lot of knowledge hidden in every particle of dust risen by their feet as they walked on the earth. This culture of touching the feet is a way of expressing gratitude to them as: “Bless us to walk in your foot steps to gain positive knowledge and experiences just the way you achieved!”
Written by Yogacharya and Mudra Specialist:
Shri. Dharanipragada Prakash Rao +91 98490 66765
Translated and Edited by his daughter, Yoga Teacher and Mudra Researcher:
Dharanipragada Deepthi +91 89788 01247
