Namaskar

To greet another person a friend or aquaintance, to pay respect to an elder, a holy person or a temple deity or a Hindu joins his or her hands with plams together, bows down in front of the other person, and says Namaskar, Namaste, or Pranam - meaning Reverent Salutations.

In Hindu view, Brahman dwells in the heart of each being as the individual self. The joining of hands symbolizes the idea that in the meeting of two persons, the Self actually meets Itself. Joining hands also symbolizes humility.

Thus when a Hindu joins his hands and says namaskar, he actually says in humility, "I bow to God in you; I love you and I respect you, as there is no one like you."

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