namáha

Namāha, often transliterated as Namah or Namaḥ, is a Sanskrit term meaning “obeisance” or “salutation.” It is a devotional expression used in Hindu prayers and mantras to indicate reverence and to bow before a deity or sacred principle. In practice, Namāha functions as an invocation or dedicatory preface or suffix in devotional phrases.

Etymology and form: The word derives from the Sanskrit root nam- “to bow, to honor.” The scholarly and devotional forms vary in transliteration, including Namah, Namaḥ, and Namāha, with the macron indicating a long vowel in some renderings. In many mantras, Namāha appears as a fixed element that accompanies the deity’s name, as in Om Namah Shivaya.

Usage in faith traditions: Namāha is widespread across Hindu traditions, including Shaivism, Vaishnavism, and Shaktism, where it is used to express devotion to gods such as Shiva or Vishnu, as well as to other deities and sacred concepts. It also appears in Jain devotional practice, where phrases like Namo Arihantanam and Namo Sumatinam echo the same gesture of reverence. In East Asian Buddhism, a related form, Namo (or Namo in various transliterations), is used similarly to homage the Buddhas and bodhisattvas, as in Namo Amituofo.

Cultural and linguistic notes: The exact pronunciation and spelling of Namāha vary by tradition and language, but the underlying meaning—an act of bowing or paying homage—remains consistent. It is commonly encountered in liturgical texts, prayers, and devotional songs.

See also: Namaste, Namo, Namaḥ, Om Namah Shivaya.