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Boots:
An Inuit Women's Art - Perfect
Pair:
Wedding Traditions from Around the World - Tradition
and Innovation:
Northern Athapaskan Footwear - Chronicles of Riches
- Paths Across The Plains
- Appeasing the Spirits
- Footsteps on the Sacred Earth
- Paduka
- Japanese Footgear
- Whats their line?
- Heights of Fashion
- Select a story to discover more about the history and function of shoes!
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In a scene from The Ramayana, Rama applies tilak, an auspicious mark, to the forehead of the monkey deity Hanuman. Hanuman is being honoured for killing Mahiravana, the mighty son of Rama's foe, Ravana. As a sign of status, Rama wears padukas.
Miniature, Datia. Bundelkhand, circa 1780
The National Museum, New Delhi, 61.519
Miniature, Datia. Bundelkhand, circa 1780
The National Museum, New Delhi, 61.519
The Paduka
Forgive me Mother Earth the sin of injury, the violence I do, by placing my feet upon you this morning.
-Brahmin prayer
In its simplest form the paduka is made of a wooden board cut roughly in the shape of a footprint with a post and knob which slips between the big and second toe. This ancient design is ideally suited to the central Indian climate. Open and airy, they keep the sole raised above the sun-baked ground. Made of sturdy, durable materials, they protect the foot from rocks and thorns.
Padukas are often associated with Indian sadhu—mendicants, holy men and gurus. The two narrow, curved stilts reflect the principle of non-violence practised by Hindus and Jains by minimizing the risk of accidentally trampling insects and vegetation. Made of precious, luxurious materials, paduka become ornaments in a bride's trousseau, serve as ritual objects of veneration for devotees or become votive offerings from the faithful.
-Brahmin prayer
In its simplest form the paduka is made of a wooden board cut roughly in the shape of a footprint with a post and knob which slips between the big and second toe. This ancient design is ideally suited to the central Indian climate. Open and airy, they keep the sole raised above the sun-baked ground. Made of sturdy, durable materials, they protect the foot from rocks and thorns.
Padukas are often associated with Indian sadhu—mendicants, holy men and gurus. The two narrow, curved stilts reflect the principle of non-violence practised by Hindus and Jains by minimizing the risk of accidentally trampling insects and vegetation. Made of precious, luxurious materials, paduka become ornaments in a bride's trousseau, serve as ritual objects of veneration for devotees or become votive offerings from the faithful.
