India Prides itself having a very rich cultural background.Certainly it is.The age old traditions needs to be studied in depth to understand how our heritage is soo rich.Well one of such cultures in India prevalent even to the day is "touching feet of the elderly"
This goes way back to the times of epics or even far behind.Back then there were four classes of people-brahmana,vysya,kshatriya and shudra and no subcastes.Of which as we all know BRAHMANA was most read and knowledgeable. the Guru-usually old and experienced and learned gave his lineage to his students hence with due respect the student bowed to the all known.Still in the process of teaching there were certain things which remained with the guru,which essentially needed to be learned by the student through his experiences.Hence he was blessed by the all known to benefit and get good experiences. The blessing was nothing but positive vibes that flowed through the body of the pious guru to the still in process of learning student and further neutralized on reaching the ground is what is believed.As generations progressed it came to believed the elders are more experienced and more known than the younger generations.Hence came the practice of bowing to elders.
Now the case is its being blindly followed no matter if or not you get positive vibes. Its told in the vedas and the Upanishads say One touches the feet of holy men and women in recognition of their great humility and inner attainment. A dancer or a musician touches the feet of his or her teacher before and after each lesson. Children prostrate and touch the feet of their mother and father at festivals and at special times, such as birthdays and before departing on a journey.
Coming to the newly weds how long would a daughter in law keep bowing to all tom dick and harry? many whom she doesn't even know? can she expect all are going to be pure should to bless her? Isn't this tradition for men as well? Does it happen at will or with force by someone less?
Certainly there needs to be a logical reasoning..and people should avoid being hypocrites and showing the masked superiority complexes. Even if it comes to invoking blessings from the so called elders should they not prove worthy of it???love,respect,devotion,faith, all of the emotions cant be forced onto a human it is always from within.
I was told by someone revered not to touch anyone else's feet other than god, parents and truly learned priests & HH..
I also believe touching feet IS a personal choice it cant be forced. The will would itself show us whose feet we need to touch in order to seek blessings. A negative person can only send out negative vibes,you cannot expect positive invocation from a negative person. The best practice would be to restrict touching feet to parents, God, godly men.
This goes way back to the times of epics or even far behind.Back then there were four classes of people-brahmana,vysya,kshatriya and shudra and no subcastes.Of which as we all know BRAHMANA was most read and knowledgeable. the Guru-usually old and experienced and learned gave his lineage to his students hence with due respect the student bowed to the all known.Still in the process of teaching there were certain things which remained with the guru,which essentially needed to be learned by the student through his experiences.Hence he was blessed by the all known to benefit and get good experiences. The blessing was nothing but positive vibes that flowed through the body of the pious guru to the still in process of learning student and further neutralized on reaching the ground is what is believed.As generations progressed it came to believed the elders are more experienced and more known than the younger generations.Hence came the practice of bowing to elders.
Now the case is its being blindly followed no matter if or not you get positive vibes. Its told in the vedas and the Upanishads say One touches the feet of holy men and women in recognition of their great humility and inner attainment. A dancer or a musician touches the feet of his or her teacher before and after each lesson. Children prostrate and touch the feet of their mother and father at festivals and at special times, such as birthdays and before departing on a journey.
Coming to the newly weds how long would a daughter in law keep bowing to all tom dick and harry? many whom she doesn't even know? can she expect all are going to be pure should to bless her? Isn't this tradition for men as well? Does it happen at will or with force by someone less?
Certainly there needs to be a logical reasoning..and people should avoid being hypocrites and showing the masked superiority complexes. Even if it comes to invoking blessings from the so called elders should they not prove worthy of it???love,respect,devotion,faith, all of the emotions cant be forced onto a human it is always from within.
I was told by someone revered not to touch anyone else's feet other than god, parents and truly learned priests & HH..
I also believe touching feet IS a personal choice it cant be forced. The will would itself show us whose feet we need to touch in order to seek blessings. A negative person can only send out negative vibes,you cannot expect positive invocation from a negative person. The best practice would be to restrict touching feet to parents, God, godly men.
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