charan-dhuli
चरणधूलि carana-dhuliThe 'dust of the feet' of a holy person, guru, or revered elder, regarded as sacred and blessing-bearing. It is gathered and touched to one's own head, an extension of the logic of charan sparsh: the feet are where reverence is offered and blessing collects.
Where this term appears
- Why Hindus touch elders' feet (charan sparsh) Journal
The dust of a holy person's feet, charan-dhuli , is treated as sacred, gathered and touched to the head; washing the feet ( padya ) is even one of the sixteen honours offered to a deity or an honoured guest in …