What is the difference between Pranam and Namaste and Abhivadan?

PRANAM: The literal meaning of Pranam is to pay the highest respect to someone which is equivalent to touching his/her feet though feet are not touched. As such Pranam should always be done by younger ones to elders. It is never answered by saying Pranam back. In return the elders should give blessings.

In most Indian families, younger men and women are taught to seek the blessings of their elders by reverentially bowing to their elders. This custom is known as pranam. When one greets the elders with respect and deference, and in due form, it will benefit one in matters of health and longevity, for the elders will accept these salutations with words of blessings. This is not only a form of etiquette but a necessary discipline for social well-being. The cultural norms are transmitted through generations through these social devices.

Pranam is a specialised form of salutation, employed in reverential situations. "Pranam" is also derived from the root "nam", with the prefix of "pra" added to signify "elaborately," "according to custom," with "precision." It connotes more intense feeling of reverence, humility and greater earnestness; faith and devotion are also inherent.

The essence of Pranam is obeisance to God. Devotees bows to God with humility and submission. The palm held together by the heart and the bowed head convey deep reverence born from the heart and absolute submission of mind respectively. It is also offered in recognition that God is supreme, and the refuge and protector of all. The faithful utter God's name and pray, seeking his grace and blessings for peace and happiness. Pranam is also a traditional gesture for greeting and offering respect to guests and seniors.

NAMASTE: The gesture Namaste is the belief that there is a Divine spark within each of us that is located in the heart (Anahat) chakra. The gesture Namaste is an acknowledgement from one soul to other. "Nama" means bow, "as" means I, and "te" means you. Therefore, Namaste literally means "bow me you" or "I bow to you."

The expression "nama" in "namaskara" is derived from the root "nam", which means "to bend", "to bow", "to sink", "to incline", "to stoop", in the sense of submitting oneself with humility. It is cognate with the Greek "nemo", the Latin "nemus", the Old Saxon "niman", the German "neman" and "nehemen." All these expressions have the general sense of obeisance, homage or veneration. The word signifies adoration by gesture or word. The Sanskrit word "namra" (meaning "bent, "humble") is closely related with "namana" (bowing or bending).

Namaste is “Namah” in Sanskrit and is used for salute, “stey” is present continuous tense. Therefore Namah+stey= Namaste (I am saluting). Namostute, (I am saluting) Namaskaar (This is a tricky one), Namah is (I Salute) Kaar is to perform the act thereof, Namas+Kaar= I Perform the act of saluting. Now, remember, by salute I don't mean a military salute, I mean to touching someone's feet, bow down, joining hands basically welcomes the God in everyone.

Namaskar (Namaste) is a common way of greeting used by everyone. In ancient times its use was restricted to high castes only. It simply means bowing the head with folded hands to pay respect & to greet each other.

Nameste is a common spoken greeting or salutation in Indian culture. The people of different states use this word of greeting or salutation as Namaste (Hindi), Namaskar (Marathi) or Namaskara (Kannada) or Namaskaram (Telugu, Malayalam), Vanakkam (Tamil),Nomoshkaar (Bengali), Nomoskar (Assamese) and so on. Namaskar is considered a slightly more formal version than Namaste but both express deep respect. It is commonly used in India and Nepal, and many continue to use this outside the Indian subcontinent. In Indian and Nepali culture, the word is spoken at the beginning of writing or verbal communication also.

“As explained by an Indian scholar, in literal terms Namaste refers to 'Godliness in me bows to Godliness in you' or 'Divinity in me salutes divinity in you'.

"Namah," according to Laghu-manjusha , is an expression by means of which the abandonment of one's possessions is indicated. In other words, it is "tyaga" (giving up).The word "namas" also has the meaning of abandoning, renouncing (tyaga). Thus self-surrender or supplication would be the extended meaning. The word in the sense of prayer with supplications is also found in the Rig Veda.

According to Puranas the expression "namah must be constructed along with cognate expressions like "svasti", "svaha" and "svwadha", all of which have the sense of tyaga and therefore the object for which the giving up is intended must assume the form of charturthi-vibahkti.

ABHIVADAN: This is actually prostrations before a person of eminence, while also submitting his attention to one's own name and identity. Doing an abhivadan involves prostrations, falling at the feet and measuring one's length on the ground in front of the object or the person regarded as most venerable.

The expressions employed in greeting are three in number “Pranam”, “Namaskar” or “Namaste” and “Abhivadan”. While they can be, and frequently are, used as synonyms, there is a subtle differentiation for each of them. Namaskar is a more general form of greeting, and this is with regard to persons of all ranks, all age-groups and all degrees of intimacy. While pranam is extending respect to elders and seeking blessings, the abhivadan is the submission with full length for getting noticed or identified. However, the terms are interchangeable.

SHRIKANT KAJARIA,

JyotishVisarada, Jyotish Kovid,

Area II flat 1B3,

Shrachi Greenwood Elements