Om Swastiastu
Arts & Culture
Om Swastiastu: The Sacred Greeting That Opens Hearts in Bali
Picture this: You step off the plane at Denpasar Airport. The warm tropical air wraps around you. A taxi driver approaches with a gentle smile. His hands press together at his chest. He bows slightly and says words you’ve never heard before: “Om Swastiastu.”
Welcome to Bali. You’ve just received your first blessing.
On the road to Bedugul – © Bali International
A Prayer Disguised as a Greeting
Om Swastiastu (Om Swastyastu) comes from Sanskrit, with Om meaning God, Su meaning good, Asti meaning being, and Astu meaning hopefully. Together, these ancient words create something magical. They mean: “May you be safe in the protection of God.”
This isn’t just “hello.” It’s a prayer. A blessing. A wish for divine harmony to surround you.
Om means God, who goes by the name of Sang Hyang Widhi in Bali. Om is one of the most important spiritual symbols in Hinduism, referring to the ultimate reality, consciousness, and Brahman.
Every time a Balinese person greets you this way, they’re invoking the divine. They’re wishing goodness upon you. They’re acknowledging the sacred in both of you.
Ancient Roots in Sacred Texts
The story of Om Swastiastu begins thousands of years ago. The syllable Om is often found at the beginning and end of chapters in the Vedas, the Upanishads, and other Hindu texts. These are among humanity’s oldest spiritual writings.
The word “swasti” appears in ancient scripture. In Sanskrit, swasti is used as an affirmation, blessing or declaration, meaning “may you be good,” “may it be good.” Swasti is a reference to the presence of the Self in one’s own body—its mere presence ensures life, consciousness, and wellbeing.
But here’s what makes Bali unique. The widespread use of “Om Swastyastu” in Indonesian Hindu culture is a relatively modern development, becoming prominent only in recent decades. Before that, it was reserved for formal religious events.
Now? It’s everywhere. From temple ceremonies to market transactions. From family gatherings to encounters with strangers.
More Than Words: The Philosophy Behind the Greeting
Om Swastiastu embodies Bali’s core philosophy: Tri Hita Karana, which literally translates as “the three causes of well-being” or “three reasons for prosperity.”
This philosophy shapes everything in Balinese life. It promotes harmony among fellow human beings through communal cooperation; harmony towards God, manifested in numerous rituals and offerings; and harmony with the environment.
When someone says Om Swastiastu, they’re not making small talk. They’re affirming these three sacred relationships:
Parahyangan – Harmony with the divine. Parahyangan tries to create awareness that each individual is part of God, and God is inside them.
Pawongan – Harmony with humanity. This is reflected in the Balinese collectivist culture, where the banjar system ensures that local communities function collectively as a unit.
Palemahan – Harmony with nature. Palemahan represents a harmonic relationship between humans and the natural sphere.
Every greeting becomes a reminder. Every Om Swastiastu reinforces balance. Every exchange of these words strengthens the web of connection.
The Sacred Gesture: Sembah
Words alone aren’t enough in Balinese culture. The greeting comes with a gesture.
Sembah is an Indonesian greeting performed by clasping the palms together solemnly in a prayer-like fashion, placing them in front of the chest and bowing slightly. In the Balinese version, the words om swastiastu are often spoken with the sembah.
Watch how the Balinese do it. Their hands meet at the heart. Their fingers point upward toward heaven. Their head bows in respect. Their eyes meet yours with genuine warmth.
In Balinese tradition, in the sembah for greeting the joined palms are placed lower than the chin, while in the high sembah, usually reserved only for religious worship, the clasped palms are risen over the forehead.
This matters. The height of your hands shows the level of reverence. Greeting a friend? Hands at chest level. Praying to the gods? Hands raised to the forehead.
A Living Tradition in Modern Bali
Walk through Ubud’s morning markets. You’ll hear it dozens of times. “Om Swastiastu.” “Om Swastiastu.”
Shop owners greet customers. Neighbors acknowledge each other. Children learn it from their parents. Teachers use it with students.
Om Swastiastu is used by Hindus when opening an event, in meetings, greetings, and when greeting family, parents, siblings, friends, and fellow believers.
The greeting has adapted to modern life. Young Balinese still use it. Business meetings start with it. WhatsApp messages open with it. Tourism hasn’t eroded it—instead, visitors embrace it.
Something special happens when you use it correctly. Locals smile more broadly. Conversations flow more easily. Doors open—sometimes literally. You’re no longer just a tourist. You’re someone who respects their culture.
Om Swastiastu: How to Say It (And Mean It)
Here’s the pronunciation: Om… Swas-tee-ahs-too Break it down:- Om – Like a soft meditative hum
- Swas – Rhymes with “pass,” smooth and light
- Tee – Short, almost like a gecko’s chirp
- Ahs – Open and gentle
- Too – End softly, no dragging
Not the Same as Namaste
Many travelers confuse Om Swastiastu with India’s Namaste. Understandable—both involve pressed palms. Both come from Hindu traditions. Both express respect.
But they’re different. Namaste is an Indian Hindu greeting, while Om Swastiastu is rooted in Balinese Hinduism’s Tri Hita Karana philosophy—the harmony between humans, nature, and the divine.
Using Namaste in Bali isn’t wrong. But it’s like ordering pizza at a sushi restaurant. It works, but it’s not quite right.
Om Swastiastu belongs to Bali. It carries Bali’s specific philosophy. It connects to Bali’s unique way of being Hindu in an overwhelmingly Muslim nation.
The Spiritual Significance Today
Om Swastiastu is not a casual phrase but a profound invocation for well-being and harmony. In a world of rushed interactions and digital distractions, this greeting offers something rare.
It asks you to pause. To be present. To acknowledge another person fully. To wish them well from your heart.
Every morning, Balinese women create canang sari—small woven offerings of flowers, rice, and incense. They place them at doorways, on statues, in temples. These offerings embody Tri Hita Karana.
So does Om Swastiastu. Every time you say it, you’re making an offering. Not of flowers or incense, but of goodwill. Of recognition. Of blessing.
The greeting conveys a heartfelt wish for the recipient’s overall well-being, both material and spiritual, including blessings for good health, success, and happiness.
When Tradition Meets Tourism
Bali welcomes millions of visitors each year. Mass tourism has challenged many traditions. Not this one.
Hotels train their staff to greet guests with Om Swastiastu and sembah. Yoga retreats incorporate it. Restaurants use it. Even the most modern establishments honor this ancient greeting.
Why has it survived? Because it works. It creates connection. It sets a tone of respect. It transforms a commercial transaction into a human encounter.
Tour guides report that visitors who learn Om Swastiastu have better experiences. They receive warmer welcomes. They’re invited to ceremonies. They see sides of Bali that rushed tourists miss.
One French expat shared her story. After six months of practicing Om Swastiastu, her Balinese neighbor finally stopped calling her “Bule” (foreigner) and started using her name. The greeting had bridged the gap.
More Than Etiquette: A Way of Life
In Hinduism, respect is highly important when it comes to maintaining good relationships and reducing disputes between humans as well as other living creatures.
Om Swastiastu isn’t just polite. It’s philosophical. It’s spiritual. It’s a daily practice of acknowledging interconnection.
Think about typical Western greetings. “How are you?” is often rhetorical. We don’t really want a detailed answer. We’re following social scripts.
Om Swastiastu cuts deeper. It says: I see the divine in you. I wish you protected. I hope harmony surrounds you. May you prosper in all ways.
This isn’t empty politeness. It’s genuine prayer. Real blessing. Authentic wish-making.
The Response
Someone greets you with Om Swastiastu. What do you say back?
Simple. Say it back: “Om Swastiastu.”
If you are wondering what the appropriate response might be to Om Swasiastu, it is common to reply also with Om Swasiastu, although it is not mandatory.
Return the blessing. Return the prayer. Return the acknowledgment of sacred presence.
If you’re tongue-tied, a smile and sembah gesture work too. The Balinese understand. They appreciate any effort to honor their ways.
Common Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
Don’t say Om Swastiastu while:
- Taking selfies at temples
- Holding a beer
- Wearing inappropriate clothing at sacred sites
- Being loud or disrespectful
Do say it when:
- Entering shops or warungs
- Meeting someone’s family
- Attending ceremonies (if invited)
- Greeting temple priests
- Starting conversations with locals
The key? Context and sincerity. Use it in genuine moments of connection. Not as performative politeness.
The Swastika Connection
You’ll see swastika symbols throughout Bali. Don’t be alarmed. The word Swastika is also found in the very ancient Rig Veda—Swastime Indra means “may God Indra give us prosperity.”
Swastika is etymologically derived from the words “su” and “asti”—su means well, welfare; asti means to be or being—implying “in the state of happiness, peace, welfare.”
The swastika predates its Nazi appropriation by thousands of years. In Bali, it remains what it always was: a symbol of good fortune and spiritual well-being.
The greeting and the symbol share roots. Both come from “swasti.” Both invoke blessing. Both wish for prosperity and peace.
Om Swastiastu: Teaching the Next Generation
In traditional Balinese schools, children learn Om Swastiastu early. Not just the words—the meaning behind them.
They learn about Tri Hita Karana. They practice sembah. They understand that greeting someone isn’t casual. It’s sacred. It’s meaningful.
This transmission of culture faces challenges. Modern influences. Western education models. Digital distractions. Global culture.
Yet the greeting persists. Parents still teach it. Grandparents still model it. Communities still value it. It adapts without disappearing.
Beyond Bali’s Shores
Can you use Om Swastiastu outside Bali? Of course. If you’re greeting another Balinese Hindu anywhere in the world, it’s appropriate.
But be mindful. In non-Balinese contexts, it might confuse people. The gesture—pressed palms, slight bow—translates better across cultures than the specific Sanskrit words.
What matters more than the exact phrase? The spirit behind it. The genuine wish for another’s wellbeing. The recognition of shared humanity. The moment of true presence.
These transcend language and location.
Looking Forward
Bali stands at a crossroads. Tourism booms. Development accelerates. Global culture seeps in. Climate change threatens. Social media reshapes interaction.
Will Om Swastiastu survive?
All signs point to yes. The greeting has shown remarkable resilience. Rather than fading, it has strengthened. Rather than becoming performative, it remains meaningful.
Why? Because it serves a need that modern life intensifies. As interactions speed up, we crave authentic connection. As life grows more fragmented, we seek integration. As individualism dominates, we hunger for community.
Om Swastiastu offers all three. Connection. Integration. Community.
The next generation of Balinese understands this. They’re not abandoning tradition. They’re adapting it. Using it in text messages. Incorporating it into social media. Teaching it to their children.
Visitors play a role too. When tourists embrace Om Swastiastu respectfully, they validate its importance. They show that Balinese culture has value beyond exotic curiosity. They participate in keeping it alive.
The future of this greeting isn’t about preservation in amber. It’s about living evolution. About remaining relevant while staying rooted. About changing form without losing essence.
As long as Balinese people value harmony—with the divine, with each other, with nature—Om Swastiastu will thrive. As long as humans need genuine connection, this blessing-as-greeting will resonate.
The words carry power that transcends their syllables. They create what they describe: harmony, protection, goodness. They transform ordinary moments into sacred encounters.
So when someone greets you with pressed palms and a gentle “Om Swastiastu,” receive it fully. Recognize the gift being offered. Return the blessing. Let it remind you that every interaction holds potential for grace.
In Bali, even hello is a prayer. Even greeting is blessing. Even meeting a stranger is honoring the divine.
Om Swastiastu. May peace and safety be with you. May goodness come from all directions. May you prosper in harmony with the divine, with humanity, and with nature.
That’s the magic of Bali, condensed into four syllables.
Om or Aum (ॐ) is a sacred sound and a spiritual symbol in Indian religions. It signifies the essence of the ultimate reality, consciousness or Atman. More broadly, it is a syllable that is chanted either independently or before a spiritual recitation in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. The meaning and connotations of Om vary between the diverse schools within and across the various traditions. It is part of the iconography found in ancient and medieval era manuscripts, temples, monasteries and spiritual retreats in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
In Hinduism, Om is one of the most important spiritual symbols. It refers to Atman (soul, self within) and Brahman (ultimate reality, entirety of the universe, truth, divine, supreme spirit, cosmic principles, knowledge). The syllable is often found at the beginning and the end of chapters in the Vedas, the Upanishads, and other Hindu texts. It is a sacred spiritual incantation made before and during the recitation of spiritual texts, during puja and private prayers, in ceremonies of rites of passages (sanskara) such as weddings, and sometimes during meditative and spiritual activities such as Yoga.
Sound Healing
AUM (OM) Chanting at 396 Hz
Sources and Further Reading
Variety of Balinese Languages to Give Greetings – Visit Bali
Om Swastiastu: The Secret Meaning Behind Bali’s Magic Greeting – Hey Bali
From Om Swastiastu to Astungkara – Bali Spiritual Healing
Om Swastiastu Meaning – London Daily News
The Meaning of Om Swastiastu – How to Bali
Understanding Hindu Greetings – eGod
The Meaning and Origins of Om Swastyastu – BaliTrekker
Vedas – Wikipedia
Om – Wikipedia
The Concept of Swasti in Hinduism – Hinduwebsite
Tri Hita Karana – Wikipedia
Tri Hita Karana Explained – Merusaka Nusa Dua
Tri Hita Karana – Balinese Wisdom – Bali Around
Tri Hita Karana: Harmony with God, Humanity and Nature – Warriors of the Divine
Sembah – Wikipedia
Good to Know: Balinese Symbol – Bali Kura-Kura Guide
Gamelan Bali
Gamelan Bali (Balinese Gamelan) – Traditional Music of Bali