Excavations for Indus Valley Civilization have revealed many male and female terracotta figures in Namaste posture. These archaeological findings are dated to be between 3000 BC to 2000 BC.
In the contemporary era, Nama? means 'bow,' 'obeisance,' 'reverential salutation,' or 'adoration,' and te means 'to you.' Therefore, Namaste literally means "bowing to you." Hinduism also has a spiritual import reflecting the belief that "the divine and self (soul) is same in you and me" and connotes "I bow to the divine in you."
The gesture is widely used throughout the Indian subcontinent, parts of Asia, and beyond, where people of South and Southeast Asian origins have migrated. Namaste or namaskar is used as a respectful form of greeting, acknowledging, and welcoming a relative, guest, or stranger. In some contexts, Namaste is used by one person to express gratitude for assistance offered or given and to thank the other person for his or her generous kindness.