We Indians believe that when a person bows down and touches the feet of our elders, their ego gets suppressed as this gesture indicates respecting the age, experience, achievements and wisdom of the person whose feet are being touched.
The act of padasparshan (touching the feet) has a profound scientific reason. The nerves in the human body, starting from our brain, spread all over our body and end at our fingertips and toes. While doing padasparshan, when the fingertips of your hand are joined to the feet of the opposite person, a closed circuit is established between the two immediately and the energies of your bodies are connected – your fingers and hands become the receptor of that energy, while the feet of the elder person become the giver of the energy. When the elder accepts this respect, their heart becomes filled with good thoughts and positive energy, which they give out through their hands and feet.
Health benefits of Touching feet.
There are generally 3 ways of touching the feet as said by Indian scholars and each methods have thier own benefits.
1. While bending forward to touch feet, your back and waist are stretched. It is helpful in back pain.
2. When you sit on your knees and then touch the feet of an elder, your knees are bent and all of the joints in your body are stretched, which relieves you from joint pain.
3. While engaging Sashtang Pranam, your entire body stretches and body pain is cured.
So that’s all for today, Keep showing respect for elders and gets benefitted in your health. It’s a win win , nothing to lose in it .
Thanks,
Prabhakar jha
Hinduism practices 