HPI
KAUAI, HAWAII, September 13, 2005: Following are the responses Hinduism Today received regarding the deposition of 500 pairs of shoes manufactured by the Minelli company in France with a picture of Lord Rama.
I would think that just like when deities are installed we do a Pran-Pratishtha celebration, we can do the reverse ceremony on the shoes and then destroy them. Om.
Kumar Sagar
I would run the shoes through a chemical process that would remove the image of the lord. Then the shoes can be reused or recycled.
Suresh
Those “Ram Shoes” are to be treated just like Bharat did when he took the “Charan Paduka” of Lord Shri Ram and ruled Ayodhya. These modern day “Ram Shoes” can be placed in the temples, too.
Harish Sharma
There is no need to discard them . Only thing is they are not to be used as shoes. Remember Sri Bhartha actually kept the Padukas of Rama and conducted the affairs of the kingdom for 14 years. These shoes can be auctioned and the money used for Hindu Charity purposes or for Ekal Vidyalayas. Those who acquire the shoes can keep them in their drawing /sitting room as an icon and once they become old, then discard them in a river.
R.Vaidyanathan
On the outset let me congratulate all the Hindu brethren for recovering back the shoes having picture of Lord Rama and thus protecting Sanatana Dharma. We should remember that in Ramayana Bharata has ruled the kingdom of Ayodhya for fourteen years by keeping the padukas (shoes) of Rama on throne and he used to carry them by keeping on his head. That was the importance given to Lord Sri Rama’s padukas. We should not forget how Rama ended his Avatar. After Mata Sita has entered into the mother earth’s fold, Lord Rama has given kingdom to his sons Lov and Kush and afterwards he has ended his avatar by entering himself into the Sarayu River.
Saibanisa
It is fine to burn holy objects, for Agni is pure.
Merudevi Dasi
I have a suggestion for the shoes with the picture of Rama. Hindus always believe in doing Pada Puja. Hence these shoes can be sent to those Hindus who will revere these shoes as those of Sri Rama himself and keep them in their shrine room and offer puja. The tradition have it that Rama’s younger brother Bharatan ruled Ayodhya placing his shoes in the throne while Rama was away for 14 years in the forest. I shall be honored to have one pair of those shoes to perform puja.
DS Mahadevan
My suggestion: 1. Cut the Images of Lord Rama carefully out of these shoes. 2. Frame these images into photos and sell to the Hindus and donate the money received to charity. 3. The shoes be sent back to the company if possible for them to refurbish and re-sell, or to poor people’s organization, whichever is more feasible. Additionally, thank the company for having respected the sentiments of Hindus, and also a message be sent to the Hindu community to forgive them and in no way biased against any product made this company.
Sujoy Dutta
How about exploring the possibility of considering these shoes as padukas and worshiped at some temples? I am thinking of one great saint in Central India who had his feet in a certain direction as he rested in a temple and when someone objected, he said move them to the direction he thought they should face. God being everywhere and in everything, no matter where the feet were moved to, a Siva Lingam appeared below his feet.
Arun
I suggest that the shoes should be buried in a specific and pure location with a “farewell ritual” (as when the temporary puja is concluded and God is “sent back to the Divine Abode”) and a final purification ceremony for all who have taken part to the ritual. Sankirtana and prasad distribution should also be performed. Burying Deities in clean and separate places is a bona fide system to hide them away. The material composing the shoes will decompose inside Mother Earth (that is non-different from Sita Devi), while the image of Sri Ram will withdraw to the Paravyoma.
Parama Devi