Padya

(“for the feet”) The third of the sixteen
traditional upacharas (“offerings”)
given to a deity as part of worship, on
the model of treating the deity as an
honored guest. In this offering, the deity
is offered water for washing the feet,
which would be a traditional act of hospitality for a guest coming in from outside. The actual act of offering can be
performed in various ways and often
depends on the worshiper’s inclinations.
In some cases the water will simply
be presented before the deity’s image
with the understanding that the deity
has taken it, whereas in other cases
the devotee (bhakta) will physically
wash the feet of the image. In either
case, the underlying motive is to show
love for the deity and to minister to the
deity’s needs.