Guru Paduka

In Bhaja Govindam, Shree Adi Shankaracharya too says

गुरु चरणाम्भुज निर्भरभक्तः
संसाराद्-अचिराद्-भव मुक्तः |
सेन्दिय मानस नियमादेवं
द्रक्ष्यसि निज हृदयस्थं देवम् ‖ 32 ‖
guru caraṇāmbhuja nirbharabhaktaḥ
saṃsārād-acirād-bhava muktaḥ |
sendiya mānasa niyamādevaṃ
drakṣyasi nija hṛdayasthaṃ devam ‖ 32 ‖

O Devotee, sincerely dedicated to the lotus feet of the Guru!

To the sincere devotee who surrenders with faith and love at the Guru’s lotus feet, a profound spiritual journey is unfolding. This act of surrender signifies a willingness to let go of the ego’s hold, opening oneself to the guidance and grace of the Guru. The Guru’s feet symbolize both the earthly and transcendent aspects of the divine, grounding the disciples in humility and devotion while uplifting their consciousness toward the higher truth. The lotus feet are the gateway to the Guru’s grace, a power that can carry the devotee through the trials of worldly existence and closer to liberation.

May thou soon be free from Saṁsārā, the circle of birth and death.

The ultimate aspiration of any true devotee is liberation—freedom from Saṁsārā, the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, driven by desires and karma. In this cycle, the soul is bound by ignorance, repeating patterns of attachment and aversion, craving and suffering. The Guru’s grace, combined with the devotee’s dedicated efforts, breaks this cycle, leading the devotee to self-realization and liberation. Through guidance, the Guru reveals the impermanence of worldly pleasures and teaches the devotees to seek the eternal, transcendent truth, freeing them from the limitations of time-bound existence.

Through disciplined senses and controlled mind,

The path to liberation requires the mastery of one’s senses and mind. Discipline over the senses means developing the ability to experience the world without being ruled by cravings or attachments. Similarly, a controlled mind allows the devotee to direct their energy inward, unhindered by distractions or compulsions. The Guru teaches the devotee to cultivate this discipline through meditation, self-inquiry, and devotion. As the senses and mind come under control, they cease to pull the devotee outward, allowing for greater focus on the inner reality.

Thou shalt come to see (experience) the in-dwelling Lord of your heart.

With a pure, disciplined mind and senses, the devotee turns their awareness inward, uncovering the divine presence within—the in-dwelling Lord of the heart. This presence is the very essence of the soul, the divine spark that transcends all duality and is one with the Supreme Consciousness. Through the Guru’s grace and the devotee’s sincere efforts, this truth becomes an experiential reality, not merely an intellectual understanding. To “see” the Lord within is to merge with this divine essence, to live in awareness of the unity between self and the Supreme, and to rest in the bliss of the eternal, undivided consciousness.

Thus, through the Guru’s guidance, inner discipline, and unwavering dedication, the sincere devotee traverses the path from bondage in Saṁsārā to the boundless freedom and peace of liberation. A Sadhak must surrender to the Lotus Feet of his Sadguru.

To achieve this, we have to worship Paduka of our Sadguru. Padukas hold profound symbolic and spiritual significance in the life of a Sadhak (spiritual aspirant). They are not merely objects of reverence but represent a deep, sacred connection with the Guru, embodying the Guru’s spiritual essence, guidance, and blessings. Here’s how they contribute to a Sadhak’s journey:

1. Symbol of the Guru’s Presence and Grace

• The Padukas represent the Guru’s feet, which in many spiritual traditions are considered the most sacred part of the Guru’s physical form. They symbolize humility, purity, and surrender. Worshipping the Padukas brings the Sadhak closer to the Guru’s divine presence, reinforcing the sense that the Guru is ever-present, guiding and protecting them on the path.

2. Channel for Receiving Guru’s Energetic Transmission

• Padukas act as a focal point for receiving the Guru’s spiritual transmission (Shaktipat). They carry the Guru’s vibration, which can uplift and inspire the Sadhak, aiding in the dissolution of ego and negative tendencies. Touching or meditating upon the Padukas with devotion allows the Sadhak to imbibe the Guru’s qualities, fostering inner growth.

3. Representation of the Guru’s Teachings and Path

• The Padukas are reminders of the teachings and values imparted by the Guru. The Sadhak, while revering the Padukas, contemplates the qualities the Guru embodies, such as compassion, wisdom, renunciation, and the steadfast pursuit of truth. This helps the Sadhak internalize these teachings, reinforcing their commitment to spiritual principles.

4. Symbol of Surrender and Bhakti (Devotion)

• Bowing to the Padukas is a gesture of surrender, humility, and respect. It signifies the Sadhak’s willingness to surrender personal will and ego in favour of aligning with the Guru’s guidance. This act of surrender helps cultivate Bhakti, the devotional love that dissolves the sense of separation from the divine and opens the heart to grace.

5. Aid in Developing Sudha Bhavana (Pure Perception)

• Reverence for the Padukas aids the Sadhak in cultivating Sudha Bhavana, or a pure mind and perception. Muktabai’s teachings on Sudha Bhavana resonate here, as the Padukas serve as a point of focus for a clear, undistracted mind. By contemplating them, the Sadhak learns to perceive beyond the physical and touch the divine nature within, gradually refining their own inner vision.

6. Connection to the Tradition and Lineage

• Padukas are also a link to the spiritual lineage, the unbroken chain of wisdom passed from Guru to disciple. For a Sadhak, they are a reminder of belonging to a tradition that stretches back through countless saints and sages, offering a sense of support, continuity, and shared purpose. This connection strengthens Sadhak’s faith and conviction in the spiritual path.

In essence, the Padukas are a potent symbol that reinforces the Guru’s transformative role in a Sadhak’s life, guiding them from ignorance to enlightenment. For generations, devotees have found solace, guidance, and inner elevation through the Padukas, drawing upon them as a source of divine presence and inspiration on their journey toward self-realization.

The Padukas of a Guru uniquely represent both Saguna (worship of the divine with form) and Nirguna (worship of the formless divine) Upasana, offering a balanced approach to devotion and realization that aligns with both personal and transcendent aspects of the divine. Here’s how:

1. Saguna Upasana (With Form)

• In Saguna Upasana, the divine is revered with a form, allowing the devotee to channel devotion through a tangible presence. The Padukas, as physical representations of the Guru, symbolize this approach, making the divine accessible and approachable.
• When a Sadhak worships the Padukas, they invoke the Guru’s physical qualities, personality, teachings, and compassion. The Padukas serve as a focal point, embodying the Guru’s grace, love, and guidance in a form that the devotee can see, touch, and relate to. This helps the Sadhak develop Bhakti (devotion) and Shraddha (faith), grounding them in a tangible, personal relationship with the Guru.
• The Saguna aspect of the Padukas also allows for ritual worship (puja), where a Sadhak can express devotion through acts like offering flowers, lighting lamps, and performing Arti. These acts reinforce the sense of closeness and personal connection with the divine through the Guru.

2. Nirguna Upasana (Formless)

• At a higher level, the Padukas also represent Nirguna Upasana, guiding the devotee beyond the physical form toward the Guru’s ultimate essence—pure consciousness. The Padukas remind the Sadhak that while the Guru appears in the form, their true nature is beyond any physical manifestation, pointing towards the formless, infinite reality.
• Meditating upon the Padukas encourages the Sadhak to transcend physical attributes and instead focus on the Guru’s essence, which is a manifestation of the divine consciousness that pervades all existence. This contemplative approach leads the Sadhak toward recognizing the Guru as a symbol of the Nirguna Brahman (the formless, attributeless Absolute).
• By recognizing the Padukas as symbols of the Guru’s consciousness rather than just physical objects, the Sadhak practices non-dual devotion, aiming for unity with the divine consciousness rather than mere reverence of form.

3. The Transition from Saguna to Nirguna

• The Padukas serve as a bridge for the Sadhak to move from Saguna to Nirguna Upasana, gradually leading them from worshiping the divine in form to realizing the divine’s formless nature.
• Initially, the Sadhak may find comfort in the Saguna approach, where the Guru’s form and physical presence are necessary for developing trust and focus. Over time, as they deepen their understanding, the Padukas remind them of the formless, eternal essence of the Guru, guiding them beyond the need for any form.
• This progression mirrors the journey of many devotees, starting with a devotion that is based on form and then gradually maturing into an understanding of the formless truth.

4. Symbol of Non-Duality (Advaita)

• In Vedantic teachings, the duality of Saguna and Nirguna ultimately resolves into non-duality (Advaita). The Padukas, revered both in form and as symbols of formless consciousness, help a Sadhak grasp the essential unity between the personal (Saguna) and impersonal (Nirguna) aspects of the divine.
• Through this practice, the Padukas symbolize the realization that the Guru, though appearing in form, is essentially the limitless, unbounded consciousness that pervades all creation, leading the Sadhak to understand the non-dual nature of reality.

In essence, the Padukas embody both Saguna and Nirguna dimensions, guiding the Sadhak through stages of devotion and inner discovery. By honouring them, a Sadhak connects with the Guru’s physical grace while moving toward realizing the Guru’s formless, eternal essence, merging devotion with a deeper understanding of the divine unity.

The Padukas, as symbols of the Guru, represent both the Advaita (non-dual) and Dvaita (dual) principles, bridging these seemingly opposing views in a way that deepens a Sadhak’s understanding and devotion. Here’s how Padukas reflect both the unity and duality in the Guru-disciple relationship and in the nature of reality itself: