Premanand Maharaj Ji
Why is the one who bows lower considered greater in spiritual life?
The one who bows is great
In paramarth (the spiritual path) the one who sets aside his ego and bows is great, not the one who receives the bow. Whoever sees himself as smallest becomes great, while one who thinks he is something is defeated by Maya.
One who considers himself lower than a blade of grass is the one who will reach first place. One who thinks himself to be something, Maya will defeat him.