The Tamil greeting that often gets translated as 'hello' has a much deeper meaning to it.
When we visit Tamil households, especially where there are elders living, as we enter the house we hear them say “வணக்கம் (vanakkam)” with a warm smile and gentle voice.
How often do we stop and observe the effect this has on oneself? Have we ever asked ourselves why elders say this? Why does it seem like this practise is a long-gone tradition amongst the current generation?
Let’s shine the torch on this disappearing treasure of a tradition.
Greeting someone upon meeting them is important as it sets a first impression. Greetings can be of many types, like a handshake, a hand wave, or using phrases such as “Nice to meet you”, “Good to see you” etc. We can all agree that it is a gesture of respect and kindness to the opposite person. But how deep do we really feel as we offer our greeting? Do we realize that our feelings have different layers when we meet someone? Can you imagine a way of greeting that is deeply spiritual and scientific?
Our ancient ancestors in Tamil civilization brought in many socio-cultural practices to help us stay connected to our true self, and feel the god within ourselves and the others. One of the many is greeting others, which are not just a formality but a way to express and maintain our respect and culture. In this video "What Does Vanakkam Mean?", What You Missed In Tamil Class founder, Kasthuree says வணக்கம் (vanakkam) comes from the union of the two words: “வணங்கு (vanangu)” which means to bow or revere + “அகம் (agam)” meaning inner depth of the soul.
Vanakkam has further spiritual and psychological undertones which we will explore along this read.
While saying வணக்கம் (vanakkam), we join our palms together and slightly bow forward. This gesture of joining the palms is called “Anjali Mudra '' which with practice has a calming effect on body and mind. As our fingertips touch, it unites the left and right hemispheres of the brain which promotes a balance and harmony within ourselves. The mudra is indeed often used during prayers in Indian temples, in Yoga (for example, the first pose in Surya Namaskara), meditations, and many more spiritual practices.
It is not just about saying it out, but about acknowledging the divinity within the other person. Did you know there were different types of vanakkam?
Joining palms at the chest level: usually used among the same age-groups, or younger people, signifying “I salute the God who is within you".
Joining palms at our forehead level, with the thumbs touching the middle of the eyebrow: usually used to greet teachers or “Guru”. Guru in Tamil tradition, is given importance next to that of the god. Hence, we bow to them with awareness and gratitude.
Joining palms over the head: This is more of a spiritual connection. It is believed that above about 12 inches from our head, called the Sahasrara chakra, lies the feet of the supremacy. Hence bowing down in this position signifies surrender and gratitude. It is mostly observed in temples or during prayers.
On a psychological spectrum, when we greet with the true sense of வணக்கம் (vanakkam), one’s ego goes down, a sense of warmth and respect is created between both the sides. This gives space to healthy social bonding and positive ambience. While the gestures are already doing its job neurologically, the mental and emotional wellness is also benefited with one simple greeting such as வணக்கம் (vanakkam).
This practice and significance is sadly diminishing this modern era. But it’s never too late to bring in such valuable practices back in our daily lives. The next time you want to greet someone, consider using the unique Tamil greeting vanakkam and feel the warmth and depth it brings to your conversations!