Namaskaram

It is a tradition, as you all know, especially in South Indian families, where one often does a “shashtanga namaskaram” to elders on any special occasion, including the times, when one goes visiting an elder.

While there is no problem when this is done voluntarily, but when it becomes almost mandatory, ( as it often does when on occasions, one can be subjected to repeat this umpteen times to every deserving/undeserving elder on site) it becomes a bit of a bore.

Once I came of an age of being eligible for receiving namaskars, and whenever some younger one expressed a desire to do this, I felt more uncomfortable; as not only, a hug or a mere touch of hands seemed to me to express much more warmth, but being raised on a “traditional” wicket, the former mode being allegedly the correct way, kind of message was drilled in the mind.

I had tried to get the precise significance of this tradition -- which is in the nature of expressing respect for one’s elders – and did not quite succeed, in getting comforting answers. Especially, the usual intimidating explanations namely (a) if some one does a namaskar he/she takes away all the punya from the receiver and (b) by not doing this one’s shreyas is affected etc, ( pure manure?) being dished out by the devoutly traditional gang.

The subject got a more-than-expected kind of urgency to find a deeper meaning, especially after Anand came visiting us last week, and did namaskarams before leaving. Call it luck, or Grace, I had a chance reading of a Tamil translation of our acharyal’s book on “sandhya vandhanam” and lo behold a couple of pages on the meaning/significance of this tradition was just there. It’s worth sharing folks, and here I am…….

“Manu Smiriti”, the Hindu dharma legal compendium, talks of those who are eligible (for receiving) and the purpose of the tradition itself. It says

“ One who always does namskaram to elders, gets (a) long life (b) sharp intellect/wisdom (c) fame and (d) strength.” And goes on to define “elders”, thus,

“Mere gray hairs do not qualify one to be an elder, even a young boy with knowledge/wisdom, is considered an elder by the gods.”

The word “tarka” in Samskrit means logic, and the set of people who use logic to define various traditions etc, are termed “thaarkikaal” . As per them,

“The exertion/effort, which during its process, brings forth the feeling that the other person is superior to me/is eminent, is termed namaskaram”.

In other words, (a) Unless I feel the other person is eminent, the act has no meaning and (b) unless I am confident that I am superior, I do not qualify to receive such a form of respect.

And going by manusmiriti, the age of the person to whom I bow down is obviously not very relevant. So it would seem. And may be, perhaps, if one does not deserve, and yet accepts such respect from others, one loses his earned “punya”.

To borrow from Confucius “one who knows and knows that he knows, is the only one who can accept namaskar offered to him in respect”.

My unease in either giving this to every elderly folk, or receive from any youngster, therefore justifiably continues……

May God bless us all……..

Vichu