Namaskara ( bowing down )

                                  Namaskara ( the act of bowing down )


        Namaskara is a gesture of respect and an express of humility. It is a powerful link in bringing a close contact between two people. This is seen almost in all parts of the world in different forms.

While leaving the temple, it is customary for the devotee to show his respects and humility by bowing down to the deity.

As commonly see , people put their closed palms together near the chest, close their eyes and pray. Some touch the feet of the idol with their forehead and do the bowing.

In Indian tradition, males do sashtanga namaskaram. Ashta means eight and anga means parts of the body. Sashtanga namaskara means bowing down before the deity with the eight parts of the body touching the earth ( floor ). It is a respectful obeisance made by the prostration of the eight limbs of the body on the ground. The eight limbs are knees, feet, hands, chest, mind, head, speech and eyes.
At the time of prostration, hands, legs, chest, knees, eyes, hands all should touch the ground and mouth should chant prayer or namah with full concentration of mind. It is also a prostration on the ground like a log ( dandavat ) .

For ladies, Panchanga namaskara is prescribed in the scriptures. While bowing down in a bending manner, the five parts of the body namely two knees, two hands and head should touch the ground and the mouth uttering a prayer with full concentration of mind. Her de.icate parts of the body should not touch the ground.

This Panchanga namaskara confers dheerga sowmangalya ( long married life ) and all good benefits to ladies. Thus namanskara creates a sense of equality among all. It is a sort of exercise to body, mind and intellect and purifies them .