("for your
feet") The third of sixteen customary upacharas ("offerings")
made to a god as part of devotion, based on the principle of honoring the deity
as a distinguished guest.
The god is given water to wash his feet in this gift, which
is a typical expression of hospitality for a visitor coming in from the
outside.
The actual act of giving may be done in a variety of ways,
depending on the worshiper's preferences.
In some circumstances, the water will simply be placed in
front of the god's image with the assumption that the deity would receive it,
while in others, the devotee (bhakta) will wash the image's feet personally.
The underlying purpose in both cases is to express affection
for the god and to serve the deity's requirements.
