Valiya Nombu Namaskaram (Great Lent Prayer) is a foundational liturgical practice within the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
Why go through the effort of finding a PDF and learning the prostrations? The Namaskaram is not mere calisthenics. In the Malankara tradition, it educates the body to pray.
Historically, the Namaskaram was recited from memory or from the large Panchang (Liturgical Calendar book) or Kthobono (Prayer book). However, modern lifestyles demand portability. Here is why the is a critical search term:
| Period | Approximate Duration | Focus | |--------|---------------------|-------| | | 50 days (8 weeks before Easter, but Sundays are not counted as fasting days) | Repentance, self-control, prayer | | Holy Week (Yela Nombu – Small Lent) | Last 7 days (Palm Sunday to Holy Saturday) | Passion, crucifixion, and burial of Christ | | Pesaha (Easter) | Sunday after the 50 days | Resurrection of Jesus Christ |