A priest from the Indian state of Orissa has an unusual way of ‘blessing’ his devotees – with his feet.
The rather controversial video of the priest offering blessings to devotees with his foot has gathered a faire amount of criticism and flak on social media platforms albeit some are justifying the tradition particular to Odisha’s Khordha district. The priest has been identified as Ramchandra Samantaray.
In the video, the priest is seen placing his foot on the head and back of the devotees as an act of blessing them.
According to Odisha Sun Times, the incident took place in the Banpur area of the state during Durga Pooja. No sooner had it happened, a video of the incident went viral, and criticism has been pouring in from several sections of society.
Meanwhile closer home in Dubai, a local Hindu priest Upendra Shastri has condemned the act, saying only ‘Mahayogis’ or those who have achieved a high level of priesthood have the right to do it. Even then he said no priest should be giving blessings this way.
He said : “If you see in India we have a tradition of touching the feet of elders as a mark of respect to them. It is a sign of respect and adopted since Vedic period and also known as Charan Sparsh. Children from a very small age were taught to touch the feet of elders, whether grandfather, grandmother, father or mother, etc. I remember still at my home there is a tradition of touching the feet of our parents, grandparents early in the morning when we woke up and before going to the bed at night. We have read in an epic Mahabharata, Yudhistra stated that touching the feet of the elders gives strength and feeling of greatness. Even Rishis have observed four beneficial factors of touching the feet, i.e. it gives strength, intellect, knowledge and fame.”
“So when something like this is done - how can you use a foot to bless someone. It is ridiculous and unacceptable,” said Shastri.
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October 12, 2019 at 02:38PM
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Viral Video: See Indian priest blesses people with his foot - Gulf News
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