Footprints of the Buddha - Buddhapada
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Posted by Maha Thera in Religion section |
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In a temple of the province of Maghada there is a great stone. The Buddha once trod upon this stone; and the prints of the soles of his feet remain upon its surface. The length of the impressions is one foot and eight inches, and the width of them a little more than six inches. On the sole-part of each footprint there is the impression of a wheel; and upon each of the prints of the ten toes there is a flower-like design, which sometimes radiates light.
When the Buddha felt that the time of his Nirvana was approaching, he went to Kusin¯ara and there stood upon that stone. He stood with his face to the south. Then he said to his disciple Ananda: “In this place I leave the impression of my feet, to remain for a last token. Although a king of this country will try to destroy the impression, it can never be entirely destroyed.” And indeed it has not been destroyed unto this day. Once a king who hated Buddhism caused the top of the stone to be pared off, so as to remove the impression; but after the surface had been removed, the footprints reappeared upon the stone.”
Many temples will have reproductions of the feet of buddha, which are used to illustrate the 108 “auspicious signs” by which they can be recognized. Some of them are named here:
Svastika is the symbol of everlasting bliss. The figure upon each toe is said to be a modification of the manji, the “thousand-character” sign.
The fish signifies freedom from all restraints. As in the water a fish moves easily in any direction, so in the Buddha-state the fully emancipated knows no restraints or obstructions.
The Diamond-Mace, Vadjra, explained as signifying the divine force that strikes and breaks all the lusts of the world.
The Conch-Shell or Trumpet is the emblem of the preaching of the Law. Symbolize the voice of the Buddha.
The Flower-Vase, emblem of muro, a mystical word that might be literally rendered as “not-leaking”, signifies that condition of supreme intelligence triumphant over birth and death.
The Wheel of a Thousand Spokes, chakra, is curiously explained by various quotations. The effect of a wheel is to crush something, and the effect of the Buddha’s preaching is to crush all delusions, errors, doubts, and superstitions.
The Crown of Brahma, under the heel of the Buddha is the Treasure-Crown of Brahma. It symbolizes the Buddha’s supremacy above the gods.
”In the land that the Buddha threads in journeying, there is not even one person in all the multitude of the villages who is not benefited. Then throughout the world there is peace and good will. The sun and the moon shine clear and bright. Wind and rain come only at a suitable time. Calamity and pestilence cease. The country prospers; the people are free from care. Weapons become useless. All men reverence religion, and regulate their conduct in all matters with earnestness and modesty.”
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