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Be it shiva purana or Bhagavadam , the praises for most of the gods begin with similar kind of line like
O Brahmins! I bow down to the gentle lotus feet, known in the three Lokas, of the Devî Bhagavatî, praised by Brahmâ and the other devas Visnu, Mahes’a and others
Why does feet of gods/goddess gets special attention for their worship in puranas ? what is the story or significance behind it, does it mean we have to worship them by remembering their feet ? instead of their face.
It must have to do with the generation of devotion, surrender etc.
According to the following nirukti of Purana (why it is so called), as given by Lord Shiva in the Kularnava Tantram (which is a Shakta Agama text), one of the major features of Puranas is their devotion or bhakti aspect. They serve to build devotion in the readers or hearers' minds.
Punya PApAdi KathanaAd RAkshashA DinibAranAt| NavabhaktyAdi JananAt PurAn Iti Kathyate ||
..........
Because it tells of merit and demerit (Punyapapa), because it dispels evil beings like Raksasas, and because it generates nine-fold devotion, (Navabhakti) and the like, it is called Purana.
KulArnava Tantram 17.39.
Now, the feet is surely the place for surrender which in turn is related to devotion.
So, this is why i think the concept of surrendering to/worshiping the lotus feet of God is extensively found in all the Puranas as the very nature of those texts is certainly bhakti pradhana and one of their purposes too is to generate bhakti.
This is very interesting and good question.
We often see the term “Lotus feet” in all our Puranas, Bhakti literature and in various other spiritual books. The term lotus feet represents the Divine feet of Gods, Saints, Gurus, Acharyas and other Spiritual beings.
The feet of the Gods , Saints, Gurus, Acharya etc. are compared to the lotus .The concept is the softness , divinity of the feet can be only compared with the delicate lotus petals.The lotus is soft , sublime and also sacred so are the lotus feet of these.
Now in Hinduism lotus is a spiritual symbol , the actual meaning of which is Spiritual progress, pureness, knowledge etc. The another meaning of the lotus Feet is also transcendental , or very deep , and beyond our understanding.
A student , devotee or a disciple expresses his devotion , surrender dedication and love , humility etc towards his chosen God , Guru , spiritual master etc. By touching , meditating at their Its Lotus feet. In this way a relation with all these also gets established.
There is another concept which is called “Sharanagati” means falling upon the lotus feet of the God , Guru , OR Spiritual masters ,to illuminate our soul and to attain the state of Moksha. This also signifies giving away all our ego and completely taking shelter at feet of these.
We here can see the softness of the feet of Shree Rama is compared with that of lotus.
गुर्वर्थे त्यक्तराज्यो व्यचरदनुवनं पद्मपद्मपद्भ्यां प्रियाया:।
पाणिस्पर्शाक्षमाभ्यां मृजितपथरुजो यो हरीन्द्रानुजाभ्याम ।।gurv-arthe tyakta-rājyo vyacarad anuvanaṁ padma-padbhyāṁ priyāyāḥ
pāṇi-sparśākṣamābhyāṁ mṛjita-patha rujo yo harīndrānujābhyāmTo keep the promise of His father intact, Lord Rāmacandra immediately gave up the position of king and, accompanied by His wife, mother Sītā, wandered from one forest to another on His lotus feet, which were so delicate that they were unable to bear even the touch of Sītā’s palms.SB 9.10.4
त्सर्वश्रुतिशिरोरत्नविराजित पदाम्बुजः ।
वेदान्ताम्बुजसूर्योयः तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥tsarvashrutishiroratnaviraajita padaambujaH
vedaantaambujasuuryoyaH tasmai shriigurave namaHSalutation to the noble Guru, whose lotus feet are radiant with (the luster of) the crest jewel of all Srutis and who is the sun that causes the Vedanta Lotus (knowledge) to blossom. here
These are some quick examples of lotus feet concept you want to know. There are literally thousands of such example scattered in our vast literature. Some of which I will add later on in my answer.
