Pranama

Ways of prostrating

Traditional prostrations vary according to how many points of the body make contact with the floor. In the ashtanga form, eight parts touch the ground at once: chest, head, hands, knees, and feet, accompanied by the mind, sight, and speech. Other forms involve fewer points, such as shashthanga with six parts, panchanga with five parts, and dandavat, where one kneels and bows like a staff with knees, hands, feet, and forehead meeting the earth. These complete bows are reserved for sacred spaces, deities, or especially venerated spiritual masters.

Touching the feet

A very common everyday form of pranama is charanasparsha, which translates literally to touching the feet. In this custom, a younger person bends down to touch the feet of an elder, such as a mother, father, grandparent, or teacher, as well as wandering monks and ascetics. By reaching toward the ground, the person conveys personal modesty and receives the goodwill and blessings of the senior figure. The same action occurs during temple visits when devotees view divine images and pay homage.

Everyday greetings and apologies

Bowing can also be done without touching the ground or another person. The familiar namaskara involves bringing the palms together before the forehead while standing or seated, serving as a widespread respectful greeting. Another variation, abhinandana, pairs a slight forward bend with hands placed over the chest. Beyond greetings, hand gestures function as apologies. If someone accidentally brushes against another person's leg, or steps on money or written texts, they tap the object with their fingertips and bring their hand to their chest or forehead to ask pardon.

How Pranama is kept

Depending on the setting and relationship, a person may choose a standing bow, a foot-touching gesture, or a full prostration. In routine encounters, one brings folded hands to the chest or brow. When meeting parents, gurus, or ascetics, the greeter bends down to place their hands on the elder's feet. In temples or before sacred shrines, devotees drop to their knees or lie flat on the floor, allowing multiple points of the body to touch the ground simultaneously in silent devotion.

When and where

Pranama takes place throughout daily life during morning greetings, family gatherings, festivals, and life ceremonies. Devotees also offer prostrations during temple visits and darshan, or make quick apologetic gestures immediately after any accidental foot contact.

The custom is widespread across India in domestic households, schools, spiritual retreats, and temples. It is shared across Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Sikh communities, and related bowing forms extend to culturally connected regions across South and Southeast Asia.

What Pranama means

Rooted in Sanskrit roots meaning forward bending, pranama represents humility, surrender of ego, and active reverence. Lowering the head or touching another's feet places oneself beneath the honored figure. Books and currency carry divine associations with the deities of learning and wealth, so accidental contact requires an immediate gesture of remorse to restore respect.

Questions people ask about Pranama

See also

As-salamu alaykumA traditional Arabic greeting of peace exchanged in daily life and prayerNamasteA respectful greeting made with joined palms, spoken in South Asia and beyondNuakhaiAn agricultural festival in Western Odisha welcoming the first rice of the seasonChaand RaatThe South Asian night of moon-sighting and celebration before Eid

Good reading and sources

• Pranāma on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-06.