Bowing (Namaskar) means respecting by drawing together both the palms and sincerely bending the head in obedience. If, on the other hand, we raise both the hands in respect, it would mean seeking shelter saying that 'I am depending on you'. Falling on Baba's feet reverentially is known as prostration. It would mean offering one's own self to God by touching the earth with the feet, forehead, heart, hands and respecting with the words. Complete surrender is to offer "life as a flower of worship" to Baba's Feet. We should treat all creation, both of the living and non-living world, as an image of God and offer our respect.
In Baba's view, God is one and one sincere gesture of respect is enough. When Sapathnekar bowed again and again, Baba remarked that sincerely bowing once is sufficient. The proprietor of the Bhajanmandali of Madras, came to Shirdi, sang bhajans expecting to get rewarded by Baba. Baba offered him nothing; instead, He appeared in his dreams, erased his past life deeds and revealed His Divinity. Then he bowed to Baba. Sai asked him "is there a difference in the previous bow and now"? The owner admitted that the previous one was done for the sake of getting rewarded by Him, but now he accepted Baba as God and bowed. One whole-hearted expression of bow to Baba will destroy the sins of billion births and bless our souls.