The word daṇḍa means rod or pole. A rod or pole falls straight; similarly, when one offers obeisances to his superior with all eight aṅgas (parts) of the body, he performs what is called daṇḍavat.
Sometimes we only speak of daṇḍavats but actually do not fall down. In any case, daṇḍavat means falling down like a rod before one’s superior.
(Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, 2.1.67, purport)
This is called dandavat. The eight parts of the body that have to touch the ground are: thighs, feet, hands, chest, mind, head, speech, eyes.
(Maha-bharata Adi Parva)
My answer to a question:
About ladies offering dandavats or not, briefly, it is not prohibited since we have at least one example in the scriptures (Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.17.5) where a lady offered dandavats pranama. Aditi offered the Lord
nanāma bhuvi kāyena daṇḍavat,
full obeisances. Astanga-pranama (or dandavat-pranama, eight parts touching the ground) is the fullest.
However this is, I would say, discouraged in our Gaudiya tradition for the question of feminine modesty, not getting fully lied down in front of everyone. I read several other reasons why this should not be done but never found that these claims were supported by Sastra or Guru.
However in private or in a position where the public does not see you, dandavats should be offered.
- Manonatha Dasa (ACBSP)
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