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"NAMASKAR" : Meaning
and Benefits…
The word 'Namaskar' is derived from the root 'namaha', which means paying
obeisance (Namaskar) or salutation.From Science of Justice - 'Namaha' is
a physical action expressing that 'you are superior to me in all
qualities and in every way'..
Worldly Benefits- By doing Namaskar to a deity or a Saint,
unknowingly their virtues and capabilities are impressed upon our minds.
Consequently we start emulating them, thus changing ourselves for the
better.
Spiritual Benefits - Increase in
humility and reduction of ego / Enhancement in the spiritual emotion of
surrender and gratitude / Gaining the Sattva component and faster
spiritual progress. We receive the
highest amount of Sattva component from the posture (mudra) of
Namaskar.By doingNamaskar to Deities or Saints we receive subtle
frequencies emitted by them, e.g. frequencies of Sattva or Bliss.
How does one do Namaskar to an individual of
the same age group?
When meeting someone of the same age-groupdo Namaskar by joining
the fingers and placing tips of the thumbs on the Anahat chakra (at the
centre of the chest). This type of Namaskarincreases the spiritual
emotion of humility in the embodied soul. Sattva frequencies from the
universe are attracted by the fingers (which act as an antenna) and are
then transmitted to the entire body through the thumbs which have
awakened the Anahat chakra. This activates the soul energy of the
embodied soul. In addition, by doing Namaskar in this manner to each
other, frequencies of blessings are also transmitted.
What is correct method & science of doing
Namaskar to God?
A.'While paying obeisance to God,
bring the palms together.
1.The fingers should be held loose (not straight and rigid) while
joining the hands or palms.
2.The fingers should be kept close to each other without leaving
any space between them.
3.The fingers should be kept away from the thumbs.
4.The inner portion of the palms should not touch each other and
there should be some space between them.
Note:The stage of awakening of spiritual emotion (Bhav) is
important to the seeker at the primary level. Hence, for awakening
spiritual emotion (Bhav), he should keep space in between the joined
hands, whereas a seeker who is at the advanced level should refrain from
leaving such space in between the palms to awaken the unexpressed
spiritual emotion (Bhav).
B.After joining the hands one
should bow and bring the head forward..
C.While tilting the headforward,
one should place the thumbs at the mid-brow region, i.e. at the point
between the eyebrows and try to concentrate on the feet of the Deity.
D.After that, instead of bringing
the folded hands down immediately, they should be placed on the mid-chest
region for a minute in such way that the wrists touch the chest; then
only should the hands be brought down.
Underlying Science in this action
 
A.The fingers should not be stiff
while bringing the palms together because this will lead to a decrease in
Sattva component from the vital and mental sheaths and thus increase the
raja component in them. By keeping the fingers relaxed, the subtlest
Sattva component will get activated. With the strength of this energy,
embodied souls are able to fight powerful distressing energies.
B.In the Namaskar posture, the
joined fingers act as an antenna to assimilate the Chaitanya (Divine
consciousness) or the Energy transmitted by a Deity. While joining the
palms, the fingers must touch each other because leaving space between
the fingers will result in accumulation of energy in that space. This
energy will be immediately transmitted in various directions; therefore
the seeker's body will lose the benefit of this potent energy.
C.About the space to be maintained
between the palms:
For a seeker at the primary level, it is advisable to leave space between
the palms; it is not necessary for a seeker at an advanced level to leave
space between the palms.
D.After joining the palms, bow a
little. This posture puts pressure on the navel and activates the five
vital energies situated there. Activation of these vital energies in the
body makes it sensitive to accepting sattvik frequencies. This later
awakens the 'Atma shakti' (i.e. soul energy of an embodied soul). And
later, Bhav is awakened. This enables the body to accept in large
measures the Chaitanya emitted by the Deity.
E.Touch the thumbs to the mid-brow
region. (Please see images above..) This posture awakens the Bhav of
surrender in an embodied soul, and in turn activates the appropriate
subtle frequencies of Deities from the Universe. They enter through the
’Adnya chakra’ (Sixth of the 7 chakras in the Kundalini) of
the embodied soul and settle in the space parallel to it at the back
interior of the head. In this space the openings to all the three
channels converge; namely, the Moon, the Central and the Sun channels.
Due to the movement of these subtler frequencies in this space, the
Central Channel is activated. Consequently it facilitates the speedy
transmission of these frequencies throughout the body, leading to
purification of both the gross and subtle bodies at the same time.
F.After doing Namaskar, to completely
imbibe the Chaitanya of the Deity (that has entered the hands by now),
instead of bringing the folded hands down immediately, place them on the
mid-chest region in such a way that the wrists touch the chest.
The 'Anahat chakra' is located at the centre of the chest. Akin to the
Adnya chakra, the activity of the Anahat chakra is also to absorb the
Sattva frequencies. By touching the wrists to the chest, the Anahat
chakra is activated and it helps in absorbing more of the Sattva
component.
Effect of this Posture
By doing Namaskar in this manner, the Deity's Chaitanya is absorbed to a
greater extent by the body, as compared to other methods of doing
Namaskar. This gives maximum distress to negative energies. The negative
energies that have manifested in a person are unable to touch their
thumbs at the mid-brow region in Namaskar. (The negative energies are
subtle. But at times they enter an individual's body and manifest it. -
Editor)'
Q. What is the reason for not wrapping a cloth around the neck while
performing circumambulation, doing Namaskar, ritualistic worship,
sacrificial fires, chanting and while visiting Guru and deities?
A. When a cloth is wrapped around the neck, it does not activate the
Vishuddha chakra (in the throat region) and hence an individual gets less
benefit of the Sattva component.
Why should one always do Namaskar to elders?
Meaning:When an elderly person arrives, the vital energy of the
young person starts rising and when he gets up and does Namaskar, it
returns to normal. - Manusmruti 2.120; Mahabharat, Udhyog, Chapter
(Section) 38.1, Sr. no. 104, 64-65
Explanation:'As the sojourn of the elderly person is gradually
towards the southern direction, that is, towards the region of Lord Yama
(towards death), his body starts emitting raja and tama frequencies on a
high scale. When such an elderly person comes in the vicinity of any
younger individual, these frequencies start affecting the younger person.
A subtle magnetic field is created between the two. Consequently, the
vital energy of the younger person is pulled upward. This way the younger
person can suffer due to sudden momentum to his vital energy. When this
younger person doesNamaskar to the elderly person, some amount of the
Central channel of his Kundalini system is activated and the Sattva
component in it starts increasing. Consequently the raja and tama
components in him are influenced by the Sattva component and the vital
energy comes back to normal state.Hence on arrival of an elderly person,
it is customary for the younger individuals
to do Namaskar to them.'
Doing Namaskar to Elders..
When travelling, prior to the commencement of
a journey and upon returning, why should one do Namaskar to elders in the
family?
'Namaskar to the elders in the family is one way of
surrendering to the God principle in them. When an embodied soul bows in
Namaskar to an elder by surrendering to the God principle in him, at that
time a sense of compassion is created in his body. This compassion
percolates right upto his subtle body. At that time, energy of his mind
is activated and in turn activates the five vital energies, which are
located at the seat of the Manipur chakra (situated in the Naval region).
Transmission of these five vital energies all over the body then awakens
the soul energy. With the strength of the soul energy, the Central
channel gets activated and converts the expressed energy of spiritual
emotion to the unexpressed energy of spiritual emotion. With the help of
this unexpressed energy of spiritual emotion, the embodied soul, through
the medium of elders, gains the required Deity's principle from the
Universe. For this purpose, while leaving the house on a
journey, the embodied soul should do Namaskar to elders and with the
strength of Sattva frequencies has to protect himself from distressing
frequencies in the atmosphere. Similarly, returning from a journey, one
should immediately do Namaskar to elders and awaken the God principle in
them, which would disintegrate the raja-tama particles from the air
around him, which might have been brought along.
What is the correct method of doing Namaskar
to Saints?
1. The portion of head, which should be placed at the feet :
We can imbibe maximum Chaitanya through the Brahmarandhra (the seventh
chakra of the Kundalini system located in the crown of our head). Since
it (Brahmarandhra) cannot be placed at a Saints's feet, the part of head
beginning above the forehead is to be placed at the feet of Saints. Due
to this, maximum Chaitanya emanating from Their feet can enter into the
one doing Namaskar.
2.. The exact spot to place one's head on a Saint's feet:
The big toes of Saints emit maximum Chaitanya; hence we should place our
head on the big toe, than on their foot. If we are in a position to touch
both the toes, then place the head on the right big toe.
3. The position of hands when placing the head on a Saint's feet:
a.Some interlock their hands
behind their backs at the waist and do Namaskar. If we are in a position
to touch both their toes, then we should place the hands one on each foot
and the head should be placed on the big toe of the right foot. If we are
in a position to touch one of Their toes, then place both the hands on it
and keep the head on the big toe.
b.Some do Namaskar by placing
hands on the ground. This is also wrong because if the hands are placed
on the ground then the Chaitanya emanating from the Saint's feet are
absorbed by one and then returns to the earth through the hands of the
one doing Namaskar. Thus the person does not benefit from it.
c.Some cross their hands and place
them on the feet of Saints, that is, their right hand on the right foot
of the Saint and their left hand on the left foot of the Saint while
doingNamaskar. This is a crude imitation of the manner in which
Christians place their crossed hands on their chest. Instead, our right
hand should be placed on the left foot of the Saint and our left hand on
the right foot of the Saint. This is convenient also. However, if a Guru
has started some procedure in a particular sect, then the hands are to be
placed in that manner only.
d.The hands are to be positioned in such
a way that the palms are placed on the feet..
How to do Namaskar to the wooden footwear
(paduka) of Saints?
Namaskar to the wooden footwear (paduka) of Saints
'The left paduka symbolises Lord Shiva and the right symbolises Divine
Energy. The left paduka is the unmanifest saviour energy and the right is
the unmanifest destroyer energy of the Supreme God. The saviour or
destroyer energy of the Supreme God emanates from the 'pegs' of the
paduka as per the need. When we do Namaskar by placing our head on the
'pegs' of the paduka, some may experience distress due to the inability
to tolerate the manifest energy emitting from it. Hence, while doing
Namaskar to the paduka, instead of the pegs, place the head on the
foremost part i.e. the place where the Saints place their toes.'
Should one do Namaskar to a dead body?
Q. If this be so, should we do Namaskar to the dead bodies in
Kaliyuga only as a custom? If it is a custom, can we discontinue it?
A. One can maintain respect for the dead person by doing Namaskar and in
addition set an ideal with regards to respecting elders. In Kaliyuga,
from this one will benefit at an emotional level and not at a spiritual
level. However, one should not discontinue this custom; instead one could
learn how to get spiritual benefit from it. Due to the deterioration of
the Sattva component in embodied souls, this practice has become a mere
custom in Kaliyuga.
However, as per the saying, 'God exists where there is spiritual
emotion', while doing Namaskar to a dead body if we have a spiritual
emotion that we are doing Namaskar to the God principle in it, then the
God principle in the dead body awakens and we receive God's blessings.
This happens because the God principle is immortal and has no limitations
that a physical body has.
Q. It is said that one should not do Namaskar to a sleeping person. In
Kaliyuga if one does Namaskar by touching the dead body, then are the
chances of getting distress from negative energies not higher?
A. Yes it is; but while doing Namaskar it is important that the action be
performed with correct spiritual emotion. Since Namaskar is done to the
God principle in the dead body instead of activating raja, tama
components, it activates the Godly principle in the dead body and bestows
Sattva corresponding to the degree of spiritual emotion.'
'One hand' touch to the Temple Steps
Action: Touch step with fingers of right hand & move same hand
over head.
Science:'The area around the temple is charged with frequencies of
Deities which leads to an increase in the Sattva component. The presence
of Divine consciousness in the area charges even the stairs in a temple.
'Climbing' steps is one of the activities, which increases the raja
component in the body. Hence, the raja component is already activated in
the body of an embodied soul so by touching the steps with the fingers of
the right hand, the Sattva component and peace from the charged premise,
get transmitted to the body through the right hand. In addition, from
this action, the activated raja component in the body can be controlled
through the medium of the surya nadi (Sun channel). This means that, for
a moment, the activities of the Sun channel can be stopped. From this
process, the embodied soul learns to enhance the Sattva component through
raja dominant actions. Therefore, it is very essential to perform the
appropriate sattvik actions ateach corresponding level, hence the method
of touching the steps with fingers of the right hand and then moving the
fingers or palm over the head. Even the dust present on the steps is
charged with Chaitanya and so we must respect it and derive spiritual
benefit from it.. If the embodied soul harbours the spiritual emotion
that 'the Chaitanya from the steps be transmitted all over my body from
the dust on my hand', then it will give increasing benefit to the embodied
soul. In addition if the ego of the embodied soul is less at that time
then it gives even more benefit. When any action is performed devoid of
ego or 'I'ness it is treated as a 'non-action' (akarma-karma).'
Do's and Dont's while doing Namaskar
Q. Why should the eyes be closed while doing Namaskar?
'Joining hands while bowing the head amounts to saluting God or the
divinity in the person in front. The eyes are closed while doing Namaskar
to God or any respected person, to enable one to have the vision of God
within us.'
Q. Why should the footwear be taken off while doing Namaskar?
While sitting, partaking meals, sleeping, wishing and doing Namaskar
to Gurus and other elderly people, footwear should not be worn. -
Gautamsmruti 9.
1. Footwear increases the raja-tama components in a person.
2. Paying obeisance (Namaskar) with high raja-tama components will not
help in activating the Kundalini (centre in the spiritual energy system).
3. The ability to absorb the sattva component too is reduced, due to an
increase in the raja-tama components, leading to little benefit from a
Namaskar.
4. Doing Namaskar to a Deity, with footwear on, may also invite the wrath
of the Deity.’
Q. Why is it not advisable to hold any object while doing Namaskar?
1. While doing Namaskar if an object is held in the hands, usually
the fingers and their tips are in a curled position and not straight. As
a result, the sattva component received is unable to enter the tips of
the fingers.
2.. The sattva component emitted towards the seeker, strikes the object
held and bounces back. Also, at times, instead of the person absorbing
the sattva component, the object may absorb it.
3. If the object in the hand is raja or tama predominant, and if it is
touched to the forehead or chest while doing Namaskar, then the raja-tama
components from it mayenter the body of the one who is doing Namaskar.
Q. While doing Namaskar, why are men not supposed to cover their head,
whereas women are advised to cover their head?
One should not do Namaskar with footwear on, covering the head or
holding any objects. (But women should cover their head with their saris
and only then do Namaskar) - Apastamb Dharmasutra 1.4.14.19
While doing Namaskar the Kundalini gets activated at the chakra which is
touched by the folded hands. This leads to the absorption of the Sattva
component in greater proportion in the body. Sometimes due to the
activation of the Kundalini, Sattva component starts entering the body
through the head. But at times the distressing energies try to take
advantage of this and mix black energy with the Sattva component. The
potential to activate the Kundalini is higher in men as compared to
women. Hence they are hardly affected by this negative energy. Contrary
to this, as women are more vulnerable, they get affected by distressing
energies to a greater extent and thus they can experience distress. That
is why, when doing Namaskar, women are advised to cover their head with
the ends of their sari. This creates a barrier between the head and the distressing
energies and prevents themfrom penetrating the body of the woman.
However, to some extent this also blocks
benevolent frequencies from entering the women. (Benevolent frequencies
are subtler than negative frequencies; hence they enter a woman to some
extent even though the sari covers her head.) However, the proper posture
of Namaskar gives maximum Sattva component to an individual and hence
women too get required benefits. This shows how God takes care of every
devotee. Doing Namaskar without these restrictions is equally effective
if the devotee does it with spiritual emotion.
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