pranam | प्रणाम

Pranam (Devanagari: प्रणाम; ISO 15919: praṇāma) refers to a reverential salutation, signifying the act of humbling oneself before a superior.

God (Hari) and the Guru are friends of the humble. Therefore, devotees bow their heads—the highest part of the body—down to Their feet as a mark of humility.

However, if this remains a mere physical gesture where the head lowers but the mind does not bow in submission, the act holds no spiritual value. Thus, when offering Pranam, one must cultivate the internal sentiment of true humility.

Further Reading and Reference

• Related Concepts: sharanagati, Guru,
• Reference: Guru Kripa - The Grace of the Guru, Ch. 13