### 📜 Overview
अञ्जलिबन्ध (añjalibandha) refers to a specific gesture or salutation characterized by raising the hands in anjali mudra to the forehead. This act is often associated with respect, greeting, worship, or reverence, emphasizing its significance in various rituals and cultural practices.

### 🗣️ Pronunciation Guide
Ahn-ja-lee-bandh (stress on "bandh")

### 🧠 Grammatical Profile
- **Word Type:** Noun
- **Gender:** Masculine
- **Root (धातु):** "अञ्जलि" (añjali) which refers to the gesture itself.
- **Compound (समास):** The term is a compound word made up of "अञ्जलि" (añjali) meaning 'salutation' and "बन्ध" (bandha) meaning 'binding' or 'connection'.

### 📖 Meanings
1. **Primary & Core Meanings (from Dictionaries):**
   - Salutation with the anjali raised to the forehead (L R Vaidya).

2. **Extended or Figurative Meanings (from Dictionaries):**
   - It signifies respect and devotion, particularly in spiritual contexts, wherein the gesture is used to show reverence to deities or elders.

3. **Additional Meanings:**
   - In broader spiritual and cultural contexts, अञ्जलिबन्ध can also symbolize unity and the coming together of energies during prayer or meditation.

### 🏗️ Etymology & Word Formation
अञ्जलिबन्ध is derived from two components:
- **अञ्जलि** (añjali), which suggests 'a gesture of respect or greeting'.
- **बन्ध** (bandha), meaning 'connection' or 'binding'. 
Thus, the term implies a 'binding connection of salutations', forming a holistic meaning that emphasizes the significance of the gesture in conveying respect.

### 🌐 Comparative Linguistics
- **Hindi:** अंजलि (anjali) - retains the same meaning as in Sanskrit, referring to the gesture.
- **Bengali:** অঞ্জলি (ônjoli) - also refers to the same gesture of greetings.
- **Tamil:** அஞ்சலி (añjali) - signifies a salutation, closely related to the original Sanskrit meaning.

### ✍️ Usage Examples
1. **From Dictionary Entries:**
   - "अञ्जलिबन्धं गृहीत्वा पूजां करोति।" (L R Vaidya)
     - Translation: "Taking the anjalibandha, he performs the worship."
  
2. **Additional Examples (General Knowledge):**
   - "भगवानं प्रणम्य अञ्जलिबन्धं करोति।" 
     - Translation: "After bowing to the Lord, he offers the anjalibandha."
   - "अञ्जलिबन्धेन भक्तः प्रार्थना करोति।"  
     - Translation: "With the anjalibandha, the devotee prays." 

### 🖼️ Visual or Cultural Context
The gesture of अञ्जलिबन्ध is commonly seen in various Hindu rituals, especially during prayers, weddings, and festivals, where participants often join their palms and raise them to their forehead as a symbol of respect and devotion. It is deeply embedded in the cultural practices of India's spiritual life.

### ↔️ Dictionary Variations
The definition provided in L R Vaidya emphasizes the physical aspect of the gesture without exploring its deeper cultural implications. This is important since the act of anjali encompasses not only the movement but also profound respect or reverence in many spiritual contexts.

### 🔄 Synonyms, Antonyms & Related Words
- **Synonyms:** प्रणाम (praṇāma - bowing), नमस्कार (namaskāra - salutation).
- **Antonyms:** अपमान (apamāna - disrespect), अनादर (anādara - dishonor).
- **Related Words:** पूजा (pūjā - worship), श्रद्धा (śraddhā - devotion).

aYjali-banDa {% m. %} salutation with the anjali raised to the forehead.


अञ्जलिबन्ध (aJjalibandha)

L R Vaidya