the spiritual aspirant, the Guru’s feet are not feet merely, but are the channels of divine grace.
From time immemorial, the Indian seeker after truth has known that his receptive centre, viz., the
head, should come into contact with the preceptor’s transmitting centre, the feet, in order to get
infused with spiritual power, wisdom and light. This is one of the axioms of electricity, that the
positive and the negative poles should come into contact in order to complete the circuit.
Pada Puja develops the spirit of self-surrender in the aspirant. The flower symbolizing
the heart, the fruits symbolizing the fruits of all actions, coins representing all wealth, and
camphor symbolizing the very soul of the aspirant which gets totally absorbed in the enlightened
Self of the Guru, are first offered in worship. And finally, the aspirant prostrates at the feet,
signifying that everything without the least reservation is surrendered at the feet of the Satguru.
Pada Puja creates and strengthens the aspirant’s faith and devotion and divine qualities
like humility.
Bharata worshipped the divine feet of Lord Rama and took His sandals which he
enthroned as Rama’s representatives; he regarded himself as the viceroy of the sandals. It is such
humility, faith and devotion that will make you divine.
Here, I do not compel people to come and worship my feet; if they, of their own accord,
insist on doing so out of their Guru Bhakti towards me, I cannot refuse. If I refuse, I will not
only be displeasing those who are anxious to prove their self-surrender and respect to me, but
also, I will be failing in my duties. Do you think I feel happy or elevated when they do Pada
Puja to me? I have to sit patiently bearing all that process. Surely it is not out of pleasure that I
agree to sit patiently!!
From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda
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