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The
footprints of the Buddha are venerated in all Buddhist
countries. These highly schematized footprints generally
show all the toes to be of equal length, and are incised
in stone. They often bear distinguishing marks - either
a Dharma wheel or cakra at the centre of the sole, or
the 32, 108 or 132 distinctive signs of the Buddha,
engraved or painted on the sole and inscribed in a sort
of checkerboard pattern. These imprints are especially
venerated in countries such as Sri Lanka and Thailand,
where they are protected in a special structure, sometimes
highly elaborate. Finally, the buddhapada image can
also be found on Tibetan
thangkas. (see image on right).
The prints of the hands and feet of holy personages
are generally applied during the ceremony when the buddhapada
is consecrated.
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