Feet.

Welcome to the Loose Bloggers’ Consortium, where every Friday, some of us post on the same topic. Today’s topic “Feet”, has been chosen by Grannymar.

In all Hindu, Buddhist and Jain temples you will find before the main entrance to the shrine, something like this, carved in stone.

On many occasions, in Indian homes and functions you will find this peculiar phenomenon.

Bowing down and touching the feet of elders and teachers has been an integral part of Hindu culture. It is a gesture of respect. Greater is the act of prostrating full length with the fingers touching the Guru’s/elder’s feet and half prostration by women shown in this photo of devotees of a Guru.

Offering oblations to the feet like in the first picture which shows flowers left by devotees and touching the feet of or prostrating before respected ones, like in the others, are very much part of Indian culture and tradition. I grew up doing both on countless occasions and now it is payback time.