One of the more curious aspects of Buddhism is the tradition of Buddha footprints. Footprints are just one sign of the presence of the Buddha - the others being the bodhi tree, an umbrella, a throne, and the dharmachakra or wheel of the Law. Many temples have reproductions of the feet of buddha.. Tradition holds that the Buddha (Gotama), or an incarnation known as "the future buddha" (Metreya) left these to guide us to enlightenment. Since most of these footprints are the size of a bath-tub, the future buddha is apparently not someone to mess with. When found in nature, these relics are subjected to extreme scrutiny to insure they have all of the right signs, then they become places of worship.Footprints of the Buddha exist in Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, the Maldives, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Burma. The first footprints appeared during the appatima period that started in the earliest period of Buddhism and which remained strong until the 4th century. In Thailand, the oldest footprint, dating to 600 AD, is located at Sar Morakot, Khok Peep District, Prachinburi province.Old versions in Pakistan, southern India and Sri Lanka have few markings.Those from the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya periods in Thailand are more decorated - at Wat Phomonastery a reclining image of the Buddha has with the soles of his feet embedded with 108 auspicious symbols. There are actually several buddha footprint temples in Thailand, but the most important of these is the Phra Puddhabat temple in Saraburi Province (20 kms. from the town of Lop Buri on the Saraburi - Lopburi route). It was discovered in 1624 and is under royal patronage of the first class, housed in a special pavillion, or mondop, which is the site of a pilgrimage fair in January-March. The footprint is a natural impression in limestone rock 50 x 150 x 30 cm deep. The brim is now covered with gold but the bottom still reveals the natural rock.The largest is the left footprint at Pakhan-gyi, Burma. During the Bagan Period (B.E.: 1583 to 1830; A.D.: 1040 to 1287), most of the several thousands of pairs of Buddha footprints were prepared, painted and embellished. There are approximately 2,000 to 3,000 pairs of stone footprints in Sri Lanka. A Buddha's footprint at the Archaeological Museum, Swat, in Pakistan is thought to be the one mentioned in the travel records of the Chinese monks Faxien and Xuanzang, who made their pilgrimages in the fifth and the seventh centuries.
In Sept. 2002, thousands of people in Thailand flocked to see a puddle at the top of Had Sai waterfall in Pungna province, which was in the shape of Buddha's footprint. They believe the water in the puddle will relieve pain and bring good fortune and say it is being guarded by a frog. Many visitors to the site left incense, flowers and candles when they came to pray while others have being asking the frog for this month's lottery numbers. The frog is said to be weak and close to death because many people have been rubbing talcum powder into its skin in the hope of seeing the lottery numbers!
