In India, so many practices and traditions are passed down through many generations without exactly knowing the reasons behind them. One such practice is entering the temple barefoot.
Whenever a devotee visits a temple, they remove their footwear outside the sacred space and then walk barefoot. At first, it may look like a simple tradition to maintain cleanliness and show respect to the deities present inside the temple, but the truth is much deeper. Let's understand in detail why people go to the temple barefoot.
Spiritual Significance Of Going To A Temple Barefoot
The practice of removing shoes before entering the temple is deeply rooted in Hinduism. According to Manusmriti, a devotee must maintain absolute cleanliness and reverence before approaching the divine.
According to Hindu beliefs, leaving footwear outside the temple symbolises leaving behind ego, material attachments and worldly concerns before paying respects to deities. Some significant spiritual reasons for removing footwear outside the temple are:
1. Acts As A Barrier: It is believed that footwear acts as a barrier between devotee and the divine. When you remove it, it shows humility and respect for the sacred space and serves as a way to receive blessings from the Gods and Goddesses.
2. Grounding And Spiritual Energy: When we enter a temple without footwear, it is believed the root chakra or the Muladhara, gets activated. The root chakra is believed to be associated with the earth that governs stability and balance. With our feet bare, the vibrations enter the body more easily, making us feel spiritually grounded and calm.
3. Purity Beyond The Physical: Shoes are often made of leather, which is considered impure in Hinduism, as it comes from the dead animal's skin. Entering the sacred space while wearing shoes is like disrespecting the deities. While removing footwear outside the temple symbolises that devotees acknowledge and honour the idea of non-violence or ahimsa.
Shoes are often made of leather, which is considered impure in Hinduism (Image: Pexels)
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4. Improving Our Physical Health: If you notice, the floor of the temple is made of marble, granite or sandstone. These stones are believed to possess healing and cooling properties. They are always cleaned using turmeric, sandalwood, and sindoor. These materials have therapeutic properties and are believed to boost mental and physical health. Walking barefoot inside the temple will help to imbibe these benefits.
5. Creating Peace Of Mind: A temple is a place that is believed to possess cosmic energies. The continuous prayers, worship, and chanting of mantras create positive energy. When we enter barefoot, the positive energy enters our body through our feet. It helps in keeping our mind calm. We can perform meditation and other spiritual practices by establishing a connection with the surrounding positive energies.
A temple is a place that is believed to possess cosmic energies (Image: Pexels)
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This practice of removing footwear outside the temple is not only limited to Hindu temples. In mosques, devotees remove shoes before prayer, and in some Christian traditions, people leave footwear outside the church. Walking barefoot in the temple may seem an old-fashioned practice, but it has its own spiritual and scientific benefits. It is a practice that symbolises humility, devotion, respect and purity.