Touching Feet: True essence vs Demanding superiority in name of tradition

Touching feet of elders or respected people has always been a part of Indian culture. Many people do follow this as a tradition, though quite a lot might not even know the logic behind this. Let me tell you, besides being a gesture of respect it does conceal a scientific reason and benefit with a rational explanation.

The nerves that start from our brain spread across all our body and terminate in the fingertips of our hand and feet. When we use our fingertips to touch the opposite feet of respected elders, a circuit is immediately formed and the energies of two bodies are connected. When the elder person touches your head with their hand to bless you the circuit gets completed. Our fingers and palms become the ‘receiver’ of energy and the feet of other person become the ‘giver’ of energy.

When we touch the feet of an old, pious or intellectual person and they accept our respect by blessing us with their hands on our head, their heart emits positive thoughts and energy that gets transferred to us through their hands and toes. In essence, the completed circuit enables flow of energy and increases cosmic energy, switching on a quick connect between two minds and hearts.

The key here is who we are touching the feet and how we are touching. The positive energy flow is determined on the intellectual & spiritual level of the one you are touching feet and of course the respect and the inner feelings that you have for them. Person whose feet are being touched is always supposed to be superior in age and position.

Ironically, this pure gesture of showing respect and gaining positive energy through elders in form of blessings has been adulterated by those who consider themselves to be the only one responsible for the carrying the traditions forward, though “blindly” and “illogically”.

Sharing my personal opinion, I feel good touching feet of elders and that too when I actually respect and admire them from the core of my heart. But when I am asked to or rather forced to touch feet of those who are younger to me, in the lieu of relationships, it creates a discomfort.

I agree that children should be taught about this age old tradition. But when teaching children about the importance of this gesture, it should be equally imparted to both girls and boys. If young boys are supposed to respect elders, so are young girls supposed to. If a married girl is supposed to respect in-laws by touching their feet, so is a married boy supposed to respect his in-laws!

Not just this, in many communities, when I see a girl’s parents touching feet of each and every one in boy’s family, it irks. I am not against showing respect to each other’s family, mind it “each other’s family”, not only boy’s family. But there are yet many other ways of showing respect, why touch feet of those who are at same level, same age or even lesser. In such communities you would even see grandparents of the girl touching feet of boy and his family…is it really justified?

I believe in respecting all elders irrespective of their relationship with you, their caste and creed whatsoever. And touching the feet is not the only way of showing respect. Respect has to come from within and is displayed through your overall behavior and attitude. The shallow act of touching feet without the feeling of respect is useless, and it is better to stay away from such pretentions.

Touching feet is a matter if individual choice, which should not be forced upon, rather left to one’s own discretion. Do communicate to children about the importance of respecting elders & touching their feet to get their blessings, but once they are mature enough, it should be left up to them to choose the way they want to respect their elders. Stop judging anyone on the basis of just one simple act of touching feet.

Moreover, respect is earned, not demanded!

So for all those who force others to show this gesture as a mark of respect to them or their family members, please grow up and be mature enough to understand the difference between gaining respect and demanding respect.