Pada (Hindu mythology)

According to Hindu tradition and Hindu mythology, pada (that is, the foot) and padamudra (that is, the footprint), are considered very significant in several contexts. In Buddhist tradition, Buddha’s footprints symbolized his presence, and his image and iconography developed several centuries after he had died.

The tradition

The Hindu tradition states that contact of padas with the earth (prithivi) enables the flow of energies of the earth through the great toe and the heal to the body and mind. Hindus are also required to perform barefoot a number of religious ceremonies, rites and rituals. The tradition further states that a padamudra (that is, foot-mark) is believed to be imbued with the traits and characteristic of the person concerned.

Pada or padamudra has a number of mythologies associated with them, and the padamudra of gods, goddesses and saints have remained objects of worship and veneration for the Hindus. Several temples and shrines are dedicated to such padamudras, and Vishnupad Temple of Gaya, India, is one of the most important of such temples. There the footprint of Vishnu is worshiped. Similarly, other gods and goddesses, including Rama and Sita, have temples built over their padmudras. The Ramayana states that when Rama was in exile, his paduka (that is, slippers) were kept on the royal throne as his symbolic presence. Footprints of Garuda’s claws, a mythical bird and conveyance (vahana) of Vishnu, are also revered at some places in India.

In different parts of India, several stone slabs believed to have footprints of identified or unidentified holy persons and saints are found, and they are kept in great reverence.

Trivia

In India, particularly among the Hindus, a footmark has remained an object of certain magical practices. Thus, to win the love of a girl, a lover may chant mantras over the footmark of the girl he loves.

ee also

*Mudra
*Hastamudra
*Paduka

References

*"Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend" (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dallapiccola