Difference between "Namaste" and Namaskar"

[orlando]

Namaste all.

I wish to know if there is a difference about the meaning and the context where Namaste and Namaskar are used.

Pranama,
Orlando.

[Shanti29]

Familiarity I think. Like "tu" and "vous" in french.

[yajvan]

hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~
namast�


Let's consider some of the similarities: namaste and namaskar

• namas - is to bow , reverential salutation , adoration by word of mouth i.e. rāmāya namaḥ , or glory to rāma
• note that this namas is rooted in kṛ , to utter a salutation , do to homage
• this kṛ is to do , to execute , carry out , make , perform , accomplish , cause , effect , prepare , undertake ;
  see the connection ? i.e. ' to do' namas.
  • n�maskṛta means worshipped or adored

Now within namaste and namaskar note another equal... namaste and namaskar. What then is this mas� ?
It is to measure... but it leads us to m�has defined as joy, greatness , might , power , glory, light , splendour , majesty.
It also is considered an oblation, a sacrifice.
One can then infer that this namas is an oblation done with joy.



iti śivaṁ

1. mas is also used as mās considered the moon and hence used for a month i.e. candr�-mas

[ShivaFan]

Namaste Yajvan and others

Thank you for this insightful word analysis.

I noticed this very interesting website on this discussion, and what really inspired me was the idea that by using such greeting, acknowledging the Divine in another by Namaste enhances the spiritual potency and attracts Divine Consciousness (Chaitanya).

http://www.spiritualresearchfoundati...iving/namaskar

It also notes "With this greeting as there is no physical contact, the ability for one person to affect another negatively is minimized." - I think this is very true, yes?

Now, I use Namaste and hold hands in prayer to the very respected, to the elders, and such. But I also have a habit to do the following, which I am wondering is proper - if for example I run into a respected person who believes in another religion other than Hinduism (for example Muslim), and the person is good or perhaps a leader of a nation or such, even without thinking I take my right hand with the fingers bent in and the back of my palm outward, I lift my right hand in such a posture and lightly touch my chest just below my heart - I smile nicely, and I may even give just a slight bow.

Why do I do this, where it came from, I don't know. Is this Hindu proper?

Om Namah Sivaya

[Amrut]

I thought that Namaste is a Hindi word and Namaskar is a Marathi word, both meaning same.

I dont know if it's a coincidence, but, it is also found that many Marathi people have their surname (last name) ending with 'kar'

e.g.
Agarkar, Shirolekar, Tendulkar, Vengasarkar, Matondkar, Prabhavalkar, Gavaskar, Bedekar, Kelkar, Savarkar, Mangeshkar, Mangrekar, Prabhakar, Mayekar, Acharekar, Joglekar, etc

Google it and you will find it more

Since Hindi is India's national language, Namaste is more widely used.

Aum
Indiaspirituality

[charitra]

Essentially both meanthe same.

Namaste, Namaskaram- Telugu

Namaste, Namaskara -Kannada

To my knowledge namaskaram ends differently in various Indic languages.

Whereas Namaste is universal and common to all languages crossing linguistic barriers. Namaste.