Why do we not touch papers, books and people with the feet

JAY SHREE POOJYASHREE SHREE AMMA
JAY MAHAN BRAHMASHREE GOPALAVALLIDASAR
JAY SHREE RADHEKRISHNA SATHSANG

Dear Readers,

Radhekrishna!

We started discussion on a new question in the previous post i.e. “Why do we not touch papers, books and people with the feet?” Let us know more about the same.

We Hindus have a lot of respect for books and knowledge. We address the same as Saraswati Devi or Goddess of Knowledge. This is also the reason why we worship books, vehicles and instruments once a year on Saraswathi Pooja or Ayudha Pooja day, dedicated to the Goddess of Knowledge. In fact, each day before starting our studies, there is a prayer which can be sung for giving respect to the Goddess of Knowledge:

Saraswati namasthubhyam
Varade kaama roopini
Vidyaarambham karishyaami
Sidhirbhavatu me sadaa

Meaning:

O Goddess Saraswati, the giver of
Boons and fulfiller of wishes,
I prostrate to You before
starting my studies.
May you always fulfill me

Moving to the next aspect of the same question, To touch another with feet is considered as an act of misdemeanor. Why is this so?

Man is regarded as the most beautiful, living breathing temple of the Lord! Therefore touching another with the feet is akin to disrespecting the divinity within him or her. This calls for an immediate apology, which is offered with reverence and humility.

….concluded

Section II: Information about Indian herbs

In this post, let us again look at a very commonly used vegetable in our day to day life. The name is Muli in Hindi, also called as Radish in English and Raphanus Sativus in Latin.

1. It is a tuber with sharp and acrid taste eaten as salad
2. If it is eaten raw with salad, it helps in digestion of food because of its carminative effect
3. It is an excellent diuretic
4. It helps in cases of stones in the gall bladder and the kidneys and the enlargement of the spleen

That concludes our post for the fortnight. Till the next post on 6th March,
Radhekrishna!

Sarvam Guruvaarpanam