''Pranāma'' (

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural diffusion ...

: प्रणाम, praṇāma, "obeisance, prostration or bowing forward") is a form of respectful or reverential salutation (or reverential bowing) before something or another person – usually one's elders, spouse or

teacher A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of teaching. ''Informally'' the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. whe ...

s – as well as anyone deeply respected such as a deity, found in

Indian culture Indian culture is the heritage of social norms, ethical values, traditional customs, belief systems, political systems, artifacts and technologies that originated in or are associated with the ethno-linguistically diverse India. The term ...

and

Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...

traditions. The gesture, also known as the apology hand gesture, is also used as an apology in certain situations.

Etymology

''Pranama'' is derived from ''pra'' (Sanskrit: प्र) and ''ānama'' (Sanskrit: आनम); ''pra'' as prefix means "forward, in front, before, very, or very much", while ''ānama'' means "bending or stretching". Combined ''pranama'' means "bending, bowing in front" or "bending much" or "prostration". In cultural terms, it means "respectful salutation" or "reverential bowing" before another, usually elders or teachers or someone deeply respected such as a deity.

Customs

It is found in Indian culture and Hindu traditions.

Types of Pranāma

There are six types of Pranam:. * Ashtanga (

: अष्टाङ्ग, lit. ''eight parts'') - Uras (Chest), Shiras (Head), Drishti (Eyes), Manas (Attention), Vachana (Speech), Pada (Feet), Kara (Hand), Jahnu (Knee). *Shashthanga (

: षष्ठाङ्ग, lit. ''six parts'') – touching the ground with toes, knees, hands, chin, nose and temple. *Panchanga (

: पञ्चाङ्ग, lit. ''five parts'') – touching the ground with knees, chest, chin, temple and forehead. *Dandavat (

: दण्डवत्, lit. ''stick'') – bowing forehead down and touching the ground. *

Namaskara ''Namaste'' (, Devanagari: नमस्ते), sometimes called ''namaskar'' and ''namaskaram'', is a customary Hindu non-contact manner of respectfully greeting and honouring a person or group, used at any time of day. It is found on the In ...

(

: नमस्कार, lit. ''adoration'') – folded hands touching the forehead. This is a more common form of salutation and greeting expressed between people. *Abhinandana (

: अभिनन्दन, lit. ''congratulations'') – bending forward with folded hands touching the chest.

As an apology

It is a Hindu custom to apologize in the form of a hand gesture with the right hand when a person's foot accidentally touches a book or any written material (which are considered as a manifestation of the goddess of knowledge

Saraswati Saraswati ( sa, सरस्वती, ) is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, art, speech, wisdom, and learning. She is one of the Tridevi, along with the goddesses Lakshmi and Parvati. The earliest known mention of Saraswati as a g ...

), money (which is considered as a manifestation of the goddess of wealth

Lakshmi Lakshmi (; , sometimes spelled Laxmi, ), also known as Shri (, ), is one of the principal goddesses in Hinduism. She is the goddess of wealth, fortune, power, beauty, fertility and prosperity, and associated with '' Maya'' ("Illusion"). A ...

) or another person's leg. The offending person first touches the object with the fingertips and then the forehead and/or chest.

Related forms of salutations

A form of ''pranama'' is Charanasparsha (

: चरणस्पर्श, lit. ''touching the feet'') a bowing combined with the touching of the feet, as a mark of respect. It may be seen in temples during darshan. This related type of ''pranama'' is most common in Indian culture. It is done in order to show respect towards elderly people like parents, grandparents, elderly relatives, teachers and saints.

Notes

External links

Touching Feet in India – Indian Tradition of Touching Feet, Concept of Touching Elders' Feet in India
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pranama Hindu traditions Salutes Gestures of respect