What is Sashtanga / Ashtang Namaskar ( साष्टाङ्ग / अष्टाङ्ग प्रणाम )And why are Women advised to do “PANCHANG NAMASKAR” only?

1- Sashtanga Namaskaram. 

( स+अष्ट+अङ्ग नमस्कारम )

Salutation with eight Limb (part)

Sashtang = Sa+ Asht + Ang 

Sa means ‘Sahit’ or ‘Yukt’ or ‘with’

Astam means ‘Eight’  

Angam means ‘Parts of the Body’

Namaskaram means ‘Salutation’

Sashtanga / Astang Pranam is a more intense form of salutation done using eight parts of the body.

It is used to express not only reverence but also surrender and allegiance. It is commonly practiced during ritual worship at homes, in temples and in front of spiritual gurus.

Its simple meaning is 

"I am offering my prana (breath or life) to you."What is “Panchanga Namaskar” ?

And why Women should only do the Panchanga Namaskaram 

“धरणी न सहते कामिनी कुचमर्दनम्”

Our Vedic Gurus and Acharyas while making the rule ( According to the Scriptures) that namaskara should be by lowering the body prostrate on the ground,

Salutation rules for men: 

उरसा शिरसा दृष्ट्या मनसा वचसा तथा । 

पद्भ्यां कराभ्यां जानुभ्यां प्रणामोऽष्टाङ्ग उच्यते ॥

Meaning: The bowing with the chest, head, eyes, mind, speech, feet, hands and knees, is called the eight-fold (Eight limbed) salutation

What is “Panchanga Namaskar” ?

And why Women should only do the Panchanga Namaskaram 

“धरणी न सहते कामिनी कुचमर्दनम्”

Our Vedic Gurus and Acharyas while making the rule ( According to the Scriptures) that namaskara should be by lowering the body prostrate on the ground,eschewing every thought of self importance and finding the lowest level with the ground, they duly thought of the Universal Mother aspect (matrutwam/ मातृत्वम) of Parasakthi (Ambal) which is a distinguishing divine principle in women, and took care not to imply any suggestion of lowering its importance. They ruled that the part of the body which sustains the growth of the foetus during pregnancy and the part that creates within itself the nourishment for the new born and feeds it should not beallowed to come in contact with the ground. If the torso should not touch the ground, then the shoulders have to be excluded so that the namaskara can conveniently performed 

Thus, excluding the three angas, in their case it becomes “PANCHANG NAMASKAR”

Salutation for women

This also symbolises the need for women to have a “bending” nature. Bowing down itself means bending and it seems that the namaskara performed by women is real bow down.”

According to the scriptures

ब्राह्मणस्य गुदा शंखं शालग्रामं च पुस्तकम्।

धरणी न सहते कामिनी कुचमर्दनम्।।

It means that a Brahmin should ALWAYS be offered an Aasan/Seat to sit.

Conch shell, Shaligram and Books/Vidya should NEVER be placed on the floor coz they are considered sacred in Hindu Dharm

Lastly, a woman should NEVER be subjugated to the extent of lying prostrate (garbha part of the body shouldn't touch the floor) Mother Earth can't bear the insult to a woman.🙏