Sāṣṭāṅga Namaskāra (साष्टाङ्ग नमस्कार) means prostration with all eight limbs (aṣṭa = eight, aṅga = limbs) touching the ground in complete surrender before the Divine.
A well-known verse describing it is:
उरसाऽ शिरसा दृष्ट्या मनसा वचसा तथा ।
पद्भ्यां कराभ्यां जानुभ्यां प्रणामोऽष्टाङ्ग उच्यते ॥
Transliteration:
Urasā śirasā dṛṣṭyā manasā vacasā tathā |
Padbhyāṁ karābhyāṁ jānubhyāṁ praṇāmo'ṣṭāṅga ucyate ||
Meaning:
"That prostration is called Aṣṭāṅga Praṇāma in which one offers oneself with:
the chest (urasā),
the head (śirasā),
the eyes (dṛṣṭyā),
the mind (manasā),
the speech (vacasā),
the feet (padbhyām),
the hands (karābhyām), and
the knees (jānubhyām)."
The inner significance
The eight "limbs" are not merely physical. They symbolize the offering of the whole person:
Head – surrender of the ego.
Eyes – purity of vision.
Speech – truthful and devotional words.
Mind – complete concentration on God.
Chest (heart) – love and devotion.
Hands – dedication of all actions.
Knees – humility.
Feet – readiness to walk the path of dharma.
Thus, a true Sāṣṭāṅga Namaskāra is not just lying flat on the ground; it is the complete surrender of one's body, speech, mind, and heart to the Divine.
In many Vaishnava and Shaiva temples, devotees perform this prostration before the deity, considering it one of the highest expressions of reverence and self-surrender.
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