Greatness of Sadguru - (Dr. V V Prakasa Rao’s speech on Guru Pada Puja on Guru Purnima)

If you have faith in the Guru’s feet
If you have deep feeling for the Guru’s feet,
If you imbibe the state of the Guru,
Then you don’t have to look for God
God will come looking for you

Bhakta Tukaram

What is Guru Paduka Puja?

Why do we do it?

What is the significance of it?

First let me start out with one of the most beautiful examples contained in Ramayana. It tells the story of Bharata, the younger brother of Lord Rama, who refused to accept a kingdom of Ayodhya during Rama’s exile in the forest, because his own mothers ambition for him had been the cause of Rama’s banishment. Bharata went to the forest in search of Rama, hoping to perform the coronation ceremony for him there and afterward to bring him home to the palace. But Rama, faithful to the laws of Dharma, would not break his promise to go into exile and declined to accompany Bharata back to Ayodhya. Bharata hunted out a pair of costly sandals and said, "Here are sandals inlaid with gold. I beg you to stand on them for a moment. Blessed by the touch of your holy feet, these sandals will become sanctified, and they will bear the burden of ruling the kingdom."

© "Bhakti Mala" (August, 2003) published by Sri Bhakti Mala Trust, Mysore at Lakshmi Narasimha Mudrana Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Ashram, Mysore 570 025. Reprinted with permission.

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