Re: Namaskaram in Mandirs
hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~
namasté
Prostration is praṇipāta प्रणिपात- prostration , humble submission, salutation , falling at a person's feet.
This comes under the notion of prapatti प्रपत्ति- pra is forward or in front + patti or going , moving; some call this 'throwing oneself down'. Prapatti then is defined as pious resignation or devotion.
A more familiar term is praṇāma प्रणामbending , bowing , a bow , respectful salutation , prostration , obeisance.
For men it is called aśtāṅga praṇāma, and for woman it's pañcānga praṇāma.
- Aśtāṅga praṇāma means eight parts or 'limbs' are in prostration i.e. 2 hands + 2 knees + 2 feet + 1 chest + 1 forehead = 8.
- Pañcānga praṇāma means 5 parts or 'limbs' are in prostration i.e. 2 hands + 2 legs ( with ankles crossed right over left) + 1 forehead = 5.
Many times you will see prostrations occur ~across~ vs. straight ahead.
Here is my conjecture on why praṇāma occurs across vs. straight ahead.
As mentioned in the Aitareya upaniṣad¹, that the devatā-s are fond of the 'indirect' way, not straight on i.e. staying to left-or-right is the application of this. Hence when Aśtāṅga or Pañcānga praṇāma occurs, we're respecting this approach and doing the wishes of the devatā.
praṇām
refererence: Aitareya Upaniṣad 3.14
यतसà¥à¤¤à¥à¤µà¤‚ शिवसमोऽसि
yatastvaṠśivasamo'si
because you are identical with śiva
_
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