Fakir's sandal, India, 1871-1920

Made:: 1871-1920 in India

maker:: Unknown

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Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Fakir's sandal, wooden with iron spikes through sole and wooden toe peg, India, 1871-1920

This nail-studded sandal was one of a pair worn by a fakir – a Muslim or Hindu religious figure in India. He lived off donations and led a life of fasting, prayer and abstinence. The sandals are worn to show the power of the fakir’s spirit to conquer physical pain. Fakirs hope to achieve spiritual enlightenment by overcoming pain through years of practice.

Details

Category:: Asian Medicine

Object Number:: A158010

Materials:: complete, iron and wood

type:: sandals costume (footwear), religion (hinduism), hinduism, costume (footwear), fakir, left and sandals

taxonomy:

furnishing and equipment
costume
footwear

credit:: Glendining

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