Feet & Footwear in Indian Culture

by Jutta Jain-Neubauer

Innumerable references to the foot and to foot worship in Indian culture convey the impression that the foot is considered one, if not the most, important part of the human body.For the first time, Bata Tje Shoe Museum in Toronto mounts an exhibition, Paduka, to illustrate the religious and erotic significance of feet and footwear in Indian art and culture. Rare information has been culled from lesser known Buddhist and Jain sources concerning the rules and regulations governing the monastic life of monks.

About the Author:

JUTTA JAIN-NEUBAUER studied Indology and Indian art history in Heidelberg and Bonn (Germany). Her books include: The Stepwells of Gujarat in Art-historical perspective, The Ramayana in Pahari Painting, and Der Pfau in der Wste.