Greetings!

Having travelled to 42 countries (and counting), the first thing I do before setting foot in a country is to learn what the greeting of that country is. My initial attempt was to memorize the greeting, but soon I was intrigued with the etymology.?

Greetings are more than mere social courtesies; they often carry profound spiritual meanings that resonate deeply within various cultures around the world. In India, my home country, the greeting "Namaste" or “Namaskaram” involves placing the palms together in a prayer-like gesture and bowing slightly. It means "I bow to the divine in you," acknowledging the inherent divinity within each person. Other traditional greetings, "Ram Ram," “Radhe Radhe”, “Hare Krishna” invoke these deities to bless the person greeted.?

In Bavaria, Germany, "Grü? Gott" translates to "God greets you." This phrase reflects the deep-rooted Christian heritage in the region, invoking God's presence in daily interactions and emphasizing a spiritual connection between individuals.

The Hebrew greeting "Shalom" means "peace" and is used both to say hello and goodbye. Its deeper spiritual meaning extends beyond the absence of conflict, encompassing a sense of well-being. In Islamic culture, the greeting "Assalamu Alaikum" translates to "Peace be upon you." It is a prayerful invocation of peace and divine protection. The response, "Wa Alaikum Assalam," means "And upon you be peace," completing the exchange of blessings.

In Sri Lanka, the traditional greeting is "Ayubowan". This word is used to wish someone a long life and is accompanied by a gesture similar to Namaste. Likewise, the Tamil greeting "Vanakkam" encapsulates the act of showing respect and greeting someone with reverence. In Indonesia, the common greeting is "Selamat", which conveys to stay safe. Even the Chinese greeting, “Nee Hao” is wishing ‘you well.’ The Maasai of Kenya greet each other with "Supai," which is more than a simple hello; it carries wishes of peace and good health. In South America, particularly in Andean communities, most greetings are often infused with spiritual significance. For example, the Quechua (now you know where this brand by Decathlon originates from) people of Peru use the greeting "Rimaykullayki," which means "I greet you with my heart." This emphasizes a heartfelt connection and mutual respect.

The Thai greeting "Sawasdee ka/krub" is deeply influenced by Thailand's Buddhist culture. The gesture that accompanies it, the "wai," involves placing the palms together in a prayer-like fashion and bowing slightly. This gesture is similar to the Indian "Namaste" and conveys respect, humility, and a sense of spiritual connection. The word "Sawasdee" itself is derived from the Sanskrit word "svasti," which means well-being, good fortune, or prosperity. By saying "Sawasdee," one is essentially wishing the other person good health and happiness, which carries a positive and spiritually uplifting message.

Even the agnostic sounding phrases "Good morning" in English, Guten Tag in German or Konnichiwa in Japanese or Bonjour in French carry their own subtle spiritual connotations. These can be seen as an invocation of goodness and positivity for the day ahead, reflecting a desire to attract favourable outcomes and harmonious interactions from the cosmos. Unfortunately, the most common greetings “Hello” or “Ola” do not have any spiritual connection. They simply started as an attention seeking exclamation derived from "hallo," "hollo," or "hullo." and later shortened to “Hey” or simply "Hi”.?

At Kariwala Industries Ltd spiritual greetings like "Radhe Radhe" and "Hare Krishna" are standard practice. We also do good-mornings and hellos, but seldom the greeting “Hi”. We avoid using "Hi" as a greeting because its pronunciation, "??? (hai)," is an exclamation of pain in Hindi. We believe spiritual greetings not only foster a sense of divine blessing but also bring joy and a feeling of being spiritually uplifted, contributing to a more positive and happier work environment.

Greetings across cultures express divine acknowledgment and harmony. They foster interconnectedness and well-being. Spiritual greetings transform simple exchanges into profound connections (Vasudhaiva Kutumbukam- a topic for my next article) that enrich our lives and of those we encounter.