Pranāma (Sanskrit: 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, husband or teachers – as well as anyone deeply respected such as a deity, found in Indian culture and Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Sikh traditions.
The gesture, also known as the apology hand gesture, is also used as an apology in certain situations.
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".[1] 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.[2]
Typesedit
Ashtanga and Dandavat Pranāma.
It is found in Indian culture and Hindu traditions.[3] There are following six types of Pranama:[4]
Ashtanga (Sanskrit: अष्टाङ्ग, lit. eight parts), also called "Ashtanga Dandavat": following eight parts of body touching the ground simultaneously, Uras (Chest), Shiras (Head), Drishti (Eyes), Manas (Attention), Vachana (Speech), Pada (Feet), Kara (Hand), Jahnu (Knee).
Shashthanga (Sanskrit: षष्ठाङ्ग, lit. six parts), also called "Shashthanga Dandavat": following six parts of body touching the ground simultaneously, toes, knees, hands, chin, nose and temple.
Panchanga (Sanskrit: पञ्चाङ्ग, lit. five parts), also called "Panchanga Dandavat": following five parts of body touching the ground simultaneously, knees, chest, chin, temple and forehead.
Dandavat (Sanskrit: दण्डवत्, lit. stick): following four parts of body touching the ground simultaneously, bowing forehead down to ground while being on knees with knees, feet, forehead & hands touching the ground.
Namaskara (Sanskrit: नमस्कार, lit. adoration) folded hands touching the forehead while standing or sitting. This is a more common form of salutation and greeting expressed between people.[4][5] Also see Balinese Hinduism' sembah and Thai greeting based on the Indian Namaskara.
Abhinandana (Sanskrit: अभिनन्दन, lit. congratulations) – bending forward with folded hands touching the chest.
As an apologyedit
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), money (which is considered as a manifestation of the goddess of wealth Lakshmi) or another person's leg. The offending person first touches the object with the fingertips and then the forehead and/or chest.[6]
Related forms of salutationsedit
A form of pranama is Charanasparsha (Sanskrit: 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 (viewing of the deity to pay obeisance). 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, guru (teachers), sadhu (saints) and sanyasis (monks).[7]
^"Word Meaning - (praNAma)". KST (Online Sanskrit Dictionary). Sanskrit.Today. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
^Sivaya Subramuniyaswami. Loving Ganesha. Himalayan Academy Publications. p. 481. ISBN978-1-934145-17-3.
^ abChatterjee, Gautam (2001), Sacred Hindu Symbols, Google books, pp. 47–48, ISBN9788170173977.
^Bhatia, S., & Ram, A. (2009). Theorizing identity in transnational and diaspora cultures: A critical approach to acculturation. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 33(2), pp 140–149
^de Bruyn, Pippa; Bain, Keith; Allardice, David; Joshi, Shonar (2010). Frommer's India. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN978-0-470-64580-2. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
^Why Do Indians Touch the Feet of Their Elders?, theculturetrip, 21 dec 2022.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pranama.
Touching Feet in India – Indian Tradition of Touching Feet, Concept of Touching Elders' Feet in India
January 01, 1970
pranāma, sanskrit, रण, praṇāma, obeisance, prostration, bowing, forward, form, respectful, reverential, salutation, reverential, bowing, before, something, another, person, usually, elders, husband, teachers, well, anyone, deeply, respected, such, deity, found. Pranama Sanskrit प रण म praṇama 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 husband or teachers as well as anyone deeply respected such as a deity found in Indian culture and Hindu Buddhist Jain and Sikh traditions The gesture also known as the apology hand gesture is also used as an apology in certain situations Contents 1 Etymology 2 Types 3 As an apology 4 Related forms of salutations 5 See also 6 Notes 7 External linksEtymology editPranama is derived from pra Sanskrit प र and anama Sanskrit आनम pra as prefix means forward in front before very or very much while anama means bending or stretching 1 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 2 Types edit nbsp Ashtanga and Dandavat Pranama It is found in Indian culture and Hindu traditions 3 There are following six types of Pranama 4 Ashtanga Sanskrit अष ट ङ ग lit eight parts also called Ashtanga Dandavat following eight parts of body touching the ground simultaneously Uras Chest Shiras Head Drishti Eyes Manas Attention Vachana Speech Pada Feet Kara Hand Jahnu Knee Shashthanga Sanskrit षष ठ ङ ग lit six parts also called Shashthanga Dandavat following six parts of body touching the ground simultaneously toes knees hands chin nose and temple Panchanga Sanskrit पञ च ङ ग lit five parts also called Panchanga Dandavat following five parts of body touching the ground simultaneously knees chest chin temple and forehead Dandavat Sanskrit दण डवत lit stick following four parts of body touching the ground simultaneously bowing forehead down to ground while being on knees with knees feet forehead amp hands touching the ground Namaskara Sanskrit नमस क र lit adoration folded hands touching the forehead while standing or sitting This is a more common form of salutation and greeting expressed between people 4 5 Also see Balinese Hinduism sembah and Thai greeting based on the Indian Namaskara Abhinandana Sanskrit अभ नन दन lit congratulations bending forward with folded hands touching the chest As an apology editIt 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 money which is considered as a manifestation of the goddess of wealth Lakshmi or another person s leg The offending person first touches the object with the fingertips and then the forehead and or chest 6 Related forms of salutations editA form of pranama is Charanasparsha Sanskrit चरणस पर श 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 viewing of the deity to pay obeisance 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 guru teachers sadhu saints and sanyasis monks 7 See also editAnjali Mudra Culture of India Guru shishya tradition Indian honorifics Mudras Namaste Puja Hinduism Padodaka SembahNotes edit Apte Dictionary See pra aanama Word Meaning praNAma KST Online Sanskrit Dictionary Sanskrit Today Retrieved 22 May 2022 Sivaya Subramuniyaswami Loving Ganesha Himalayan Academy Publications p 481 ISBN 978 1 934145 17 3 a b Chatterjee Gautam 2001 Sacred Hindu Symbols Google books pp 47 48 ISBN 9788170173977 Bhatia S amp Ram A 2009 Theorizing identity in transnational and diaspora cultures A critical approach to acculturation International Journal of Intercultural Relations 33 2 pp 140 149 de Bruyn Pippa Bain Keith Allardice David Joshi Shonar 2010 Frommer s India John Wiley amp Sons ISBN 978 0 470 64580 2 Retrieved 26 April 2013 Why Do Indians Touch the Feet of Their Elders theculturetrip 21 dec 2022 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pranama Touching Feet in India Indian Tradition of Touching Feet Concept of Touching Elders Feet in India Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pranama amp oldid 1207715050, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
