Paduka

Paduka is a term from Sanskrit meaning foot or footwear. In Indian culture, it refers to a traditional form of footwear, typically a pair of wooden sandals worn in Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist contexts. The design is usually simple: a wooden or metal sole, sometimes without a back strap, with a thong or strap to secure the foot. Regional variations exist, and padukas are sometimes represented with decorative carvings or finishes in ceremonial settings.

In iconography and ritual, padukas are closely associated with gurus and deities. They appear in temple art and are depicted beside the feet of gods or revered teachers, serving as emblems of their presence. Paduka worship, or paduka puja, is a devotional practice in which devotees bow to or touch the padukas, offer flowers and incense, and seek spiritual blessing. In temples and pilgrimage sites, padukas may be enshrined as relics of saints or of the divine, symbolizing the guru’s or deity’s footprints.

The term paduka also extends to the concept of sacred footprints. The footprints attributed to gods or sages are often treated with reverence as padukas, reinforcing the association between the physical act of walking a dharmic path and spiritual guidance. Today, padukas remain a cultural and religious symbol of humility, the guru–disciple relationship, and the presence of the sacred in everyday life, appearing in religious art, ritual practice, and devotional devotion across South Asia.