Saturday, November 8, 2025

Print.

 Vishnu-footprint 

1. Vishnupad Temple, Gaya (Bihar, India) — the classic site.

A rock (the Dharmasila) bearing a foot-shaped impression is worshipped as Viṣṇu’s footprint; the temple is a major shrine for pind-dāna (rites for ancestors). 

2. Charan Paduka / Vishnu Charan Paduka near Badrinath (Uttarakhand, India) — Himalayan shrine.

A sacred stone called Charan Paduka close to Badrinath is traditionally revered as Viṣṇu’s footprints; it’s part of the Badrinath pilgrimage landscape. 

3. Vishnupaduka / Bishnupaduka (Dharan / Sunsari district, Nepal) — local pilgrimage site.

A natural rock with two clear footprints is locally believed to be those of Viṣṇu (temple/shrine at the site; mentioned in Puranic references). 

4. Charan/Paduka spots in Varanasi (Kashi), various small shrines.

Varanasi has several places (a “charanpaduka” rock near cremation ghats and other small shrines) traditionally associated with Viṣṇu’s presence or tapasya; these are local beliefs.

5. Various temple stones / carved ‘feet’ (India — Odisha, other temple complexes) — footprint motifs.

Many temples preserve carved padukas/footprints of deities including Viṣṇu (stone impressions, carved footprints, or padukas placed as objects of worship.

The claims are part of local religious tradition and pilgrimage practice. 

Adam’s Peak / Sri Pada (Sri Lanka) has a large foot-shaped impression that is sacred to Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians. Hindus typically identify it with Śiva  rather than Viṣṇu, though inter-religious and regional stories vary — so it’s often mentioned in foot-print conversations but not a clear Viṣṇu site. 

Here are two interesting connections to the name and symbolism of Vishnu in the Grand Canyon region — though not actual footprints of the deity, but rather geological/nominal ties that might align

1. Vishnu Temple (Grand Canyon)

Vishnu Temple is a prominent summit in Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona, USA). 

The name “Vishnu Temple” was given by 19th-century geologists/surveyors who named many of the canyon’s peaks after mythological deities, because the rock forms and isolated peaks looked like temples rising from the canyon floor. 

It doesn’t refer to a physical footprint of Vishnu, but rather the naming convention linking Hindu mythological figures with natural landmarks.

2. The “Vishnu Schist” / “Vishnu Basement Rocks”

In the Grand Canyon geology, there is a very ancient rock layer known as the “Vishnu Basement Rocks” (including the Vishnu Schist). These rocks are about 1.7 to 1.8 billion years old and form part of the deepest inner-gorge geology. 

The name again is geological, not mythological — the word “Vishnu” here is used as part of the stratigraphic naming (the “Vishnu schist)

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