A custom which is of Indian origin is used globally in various ways.
Namaste is an Indian custom of greeting and respect. The bowing of head with hands folded at the heart chakra is inculcated in us from childhood.
Namaste is the combination of nama means to bow and te means you. In other words, it means I bow to you. Both the hands are joined with the palms facing each other at the level of our heart chakra , the seat of love and compassion.
During prayers, with the head slightly bowed, the hands are folded at the heart chakra, finger tips of both the palms touch each other not the palms. The folded hands are then raised upto the forehead, thumbs touching the ajna chakra. At the end of the prayers, the hands are placed at the heart chakra with wrists touching the chest.
Namaste posture is also used for invocations during Reiki initiations, at the start and end of healing sessions.
When you greet an individual with an Atma Namaste, you identify him / her as a jivatma and not in his / her physical form.
When you want to be forgiven for hurting someone knowingly or unknowingly through words, deeds or action, look in his / her eyes and say, I salute the divinity in you. I salute the GOD in you. You identify the presence of GOD in the jivatma and ask for forgiveness.
Benefits: When the hands are folded, divine energy is assimilated through the hand minor chakras. At the heart, the flow of love increases due to activation of the heart chakra. Bowing the head and closing the eyes during prayer helps the mind to surrender to the Divine in the heart. At the same time, subtle energies from the lower chakras get activated. This enables the body to accept large amounts of divine energy emitted by the GOD / Deity. When the thumb touches the ajna chakra, the mind once again surrenders, divine energy enters through the ajna and flows through the entire body through the Sushumna nadi. Thus purifying the physical (gross) and energy (subtle) bodies at the same time. When the hands are placed at the heart chakra with wrists touching the chest, one is able to completely imbibe divine energy.
Therefore friends, use Namaste frequently in your day to day life...
Signing off with a Namaste…… means warm regards..
