Lotus feet...

[Guest guest]

Namaste! While browsing through the Web, I found some Indian-based sites that

are selling " Charan Padukam " -- which I gather can be translated as " holy feet "

or " divine sandals. "

 

Many of these are literally miniature sandals, designed to be placed on one's

altar (as Lord Rama's brother placed Rama's sandals on the vacant throne when

Rama was sent into exile in the Ramayana). Some Vaishnava devotees use them to

represent Lord Rama; other devotees see them as a symbol of their Guru's

presence (and Guru Purnima is celebrated this year on July 29th!).

 

But some of the Padukams are not sandals. There are images of disembodied human

(divine?) feet, usually presented in the middle of a lotus-seat, or surrounded

by a bhu-pura (the outer boundary of most yantras). Are these still meant to

represent Lord Rama? (After all, he didn't cut off his feet and leave them in

Ayodhya.) I know there are stylized images of bare footprints that are drawn

with colored powders next to the entrance of houses (carefully positioned to

appear to be ENTERING the home, not leaving) that represent Ma Lakshmi entering

and blessing the domicile.

 

And I am very fond of the images alluded to by Ramprasad Sen in his hymns to Ma

Kali, about her beautiful feet adorning Lord Shiva's breast. Can these Charan

Padukams be used to represent Ma Kali? (Would I have to paint them blue?) I've

noted that Rama's feet (or sandals) are usually presented with toes away from

the viewer, while Kali's feet usually have toes pointing towards the devotee.

 

Is there a shloka or mantra appropriate to honor Ma Kali's feet? I know an

English language chant (attributed to Paramahamsa Yogananda) that goes:

" Engrossed is the bee of my mind/ By the blue lotus feet of my Divine Mother... "

But I'm looking for something in Sanskrit (or, if from Ramprasad, in Bengali).

 

Thanks for any advice.

 

-- Len/ Kalipadma

 

 

 

 

 

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