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July 2009 
How Namaste is lighting up the world
Meenakshi
How Namaste is lighting up the world
By Meenakshi Suri
May 15, 2005
Namaste. We know how we pronounce it in India. We know the customary folded hands that usually accompany it. Some of us even think of what it means each time we say it. But not many. First, the meaning became dimmer, not being focused on each time people greeted each other. Then, the hand gesture went, with many not knowing its deeper significance as a mudra. Now, how many in India greet each other saying: “Namaste”?
Originating from a need for us to link to the divine light within each of us, namaste became a word that was used for greeting, almost without thinking. At first, everyone we met; soon, between youngsters and older people. Now, it is rarely used as a customary greeting.
But while it dims as an automatic greeting, Namaste – far from fading- is being rekindled in its second vibration. Its inner meaning is lighting up the world.
***
How did Namaste reach the West?
For the word has gone around the world, and now India is not the only country in which this Sanskrit word is used. The word, “Namaste” and the concept, Ibow to the divine within you; or “The divine light within me greets the divine light within you” [this is one interpretation] - has disseminated, perhaps from the time of the first spiritual ambassadors of Indian culture: the ones who traveled abroad, to re-awaken the old souls being reborn in the west; and those who travel to India from abroad, seeking and finding solace in her ancient wisdoms.
Is it only the excitement of an exotic word, being adopted as a foreign fad? Experience proves otherwise. These examples reveal the vehicles that have taken the word to the west, and how it is used.
World-wide web
And in the world of the internet- that web of connection among people that has always existed in the etheric plane, and now in the material plane as well- Namaste is a word that many – but arguably, few Indians- use to end or begin their messages. The word pops up in the names of companies, websites of holistic living, spiritual, healing or the “new age”, and also in print magazines.
In healing and spiritual groups on the web, it is usual to find someone from Australia, or Germany, or anywhere else in the world, ending their message with “Namaste”. Its Indian roots may not be known to all; but its deeper universal meaning has disseminated.
Yoga class
“Naa-mas-tay”- said the slim Argentinian yoga teacher, her deep bow accompanying the greeting, ameliorating the westernized pronunciation. I was not only nonplussed at having the wind taken off my prejudicial sails [“how can a non-Indian teach my child yoga?”] but took time to reply to a greeting that we have almost stopped using – at least in urban India, where we may use it when greeting older people but usually not friends .
Picture a yoga class in Miami. A small class, but many variations: color of skin, age, countries of origin, social background, each vibrating at different frequencies. After the teacher ascertains the special needs her students have for that particular class, she goes through the routine, letting us know a different way we need to approach that same asana if we have a knee injury or high blood pressure. At the end, after a wonderful experience of shavasana, she says : “Namaste: the light in me greets the light in you.” A wonderful start or end to a day, an experience of true yoga.
Children's parties presentations
On my daughter's 10th birthday, almost all the friends got thisclue, from "10 Ttreasure hunt" : "What 10 join together to greet people in India?" Most have taken yoga classes, or if not, their mothers have.
When we did a class presentation in her class on India and ended with Namaste - we could hear kids greeting each other with Namaste ~the way we say it in India [nʌmʌsˈteː] in the corridors!
Heart-warming.
Has Namaste flown away from India?
Perhaps from the humdrum of daily life; perhaps even from the realization of what it implies. It is not pervasive in the west either- but a seed that was sown many decades ago, has begun to sprout. And as it does so, in its more global grounding, it is being enriched by nourishment from many sources, mingling with different cultures and revealing its clear, radiant, universal message.
As we have seen with other exports, what goes round, comes around. As we see the light of Namaste reflecting back at us from its journey around the world, the smoldering embers of remembered relevance are re-kindled.
And Namaste flows back to the land of its origin, vibrating with renewed energy.
Namaste.
नमस्ते:
Here's a link to a blog post on zaadz http://pods.zaadz.com/power_of_light/discussions/view/167819
Access: Public
Namaste to you all today, beautiful divine souls!
love, Aley
Namaste is a beautiful greeting and one that I have taken to using for the past year or two because it means so much. Thank you for this article.
Namaste
LightSpirit
Thank you, Meenakshi, for linking to the “Namaste” post in the Power of Light pod. Perhaps it will guide to us a few others who are looking to share their light, much as you have done here.
Namas'te
Gem
I followed your trail of bread crumbs here from a post on ThinkTank thread…hah! I found you!
There you gave the real pronunciation, but now I have another question: is the emphasis on the first syllable? I've heard it on both first and second. First sounds right to my ear.
“Real” pronunciation is sometimes a funny thing. When I lived in southern california it used to make me burst into laughter when tv anchors and reporters would abruptly flip from mainstream unaccented broadcast-speak into heavy latino accent when pronouncing Spanish words and then right back again. It just seemed like a Saturday Night Live routine or something….but I do dislike butchering someone else's language entirely with Americanized pronunciation. It's a fine line I guess….
And what kind of disaster would a word like hors d'oevres be without a token nod to the language of origin?
I'm so glad you started this pod, it's a great idea.
Yes, in HIndi, the emphasis is equally distributed on all syllables.
I hear you regarding real pronunciation. It's funny when I see people in a French bakery - all latinos– with the most divine breads [I've visited Paris so I can vouch for authenticity] and not getting it when we ask for croissant …they call it CRA-Sawn.
ah well! At least we try. In a way, an Indian in miami saying croissant the french way to a latino owner of a french bakery.
You have to laugh!!!!
This reminds me of one of my last “acting” jobs- . I was a “voice actor” fo a new series of recordings for a fairly well established EFL name (English as Foreign Language) and I was employed to play an irish businessman at a meeting who spoke with a strong Scottish accent. I felt guilty to be paid when I thought of the poor French students who were going to be trying to understand this fictional character- I had to laugh, but mostly at the perversion of the “teacher” who had thought this up. But then I read about an indian in Miami saying croissant with a french accent to a latino owner of a French bakery, mayhap my judgement was a little/lot too harsh.
LOL!! Did I say croissant with french accent? perish the thought and add to the mix:
indian in miami saying croissant with french pronunciation in indian accent to a latino owner of a french bakery.
hey, I went there again today! had a lovely sandwich!!!!! No wonder I found your quote here, Mike; one year later, eh? And I found it by googling for something else.
real serendipity [what were the gaia notifications doing; hmmmmmmmm?]