Buddhism
Symbolism In Buddhism
Lord Buddha Footprints (Buddhapada)
The footprints
of the Buddha are venerated in all Buddhist countries. These highly
schematized footprints generally show all the toes to be of equal length,
and are incised in stone. They often bear distinguishing marks - either a
Dharma wheel or cakra at the centre of the sole, or the 32, 108 or 132
distinctive signs of the Buddha, engraved or painted on the sole and
inscribed in a sort of checkerboard pattern. These imprints are especially
venerated in countries such as Sri Lanka and Thailand, where they are
protected in a special structure, sometimes highly elaborate. Finally, the
buddhapada image can also be found on Tibetan thangkas.
(see image on right). The prints of the hands and feet
of holy personages are generally applied during the ceremony when the
buddhapada is consecrated.
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