om swastyastu
In Balinese, hello is expressed as om swastyastu.
om swastyastu is used as a standard greeting when meeting someone or when beginning a speech.
Meaning: greeting (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a benediction derived from Sanskrit. swastyastu conveys the idea of being in a state of goodness or well-being, making the phrase mean "may God bless you with goodness".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
om swastyastu is a formal and respectful greeting. It is more formal than casual greetings like halo or hai which may be used in informal settings. For a colloquial way to greet someone and ask how they are doing, you can use Punapi gatra?
When do people say it?
Deeply rooted in Hindu-Balinese traditions, the phrase is used to invoke divine blessings upon the listener. When someone greets you with om swastyastu, the polite and standard response is to repeat the same phrase back to them.
Did you know?
- The Sanskrit root of swastyastu is shared with the word 'swastika', which in the Balinese context is a symbol of peace and good fortune.
- When saying om swastyastu, it is customary to press the palms of the hands together in front of the chest in a gesture called 'anjali'.
- Because om swastyastu is a sacred prayer, Balinese people avoid saying it while sitting on the floor or in positions that are considered spiritually disrespectful.
Examples in context
- Om swastyastu, punapi gatrane?Om swastyastu, how are you?
- Om swastyastu, tiang jagi mrika.Om swastyastu, I am going there.
Example conversation
Two friends meet on the street.
- PutuOm swastyastu, Putu!Hello, Putu!
- PutuOm swastyastu!Hello!
- PutuApa kabar?How are you?
- PutuKabar baik.I am fine.
