IN PRAISE OF DUST OF GURU’S FEET

[Guest guest]

prof laxmi narain (prof_narain)

 

Source and courtesy: Sri Ramana Kendram, Hyderabad

This article was published in Sri Ramana Jyothi,

monthly magazine of the Kendram.

 

IN PRAISE OF DUST OF GURU'S FEET

 

The following is from the Balakanda of the greatest Hindi poet

Tusidas's evergreen classic Ramacharitamasa, written 431 years ago.

Mahatma Gandhi has said: " I regard Ramanyana of Tulsidas as the

greatest book in all devotional literature. " Extolling the virtues of

the dust of his Guru's feet, the poet says:

 

I greet the pollen-like dust of the lotus feet of my Guru which is

refulgent, fragrant and flavoured with love. It is like the power of

the life-giving herb, which reduces the ills and worries of my

mundane existence.

 

The dust of Guru's feet adorns the body of a lucky person as white

ashes beautify the body of Lord Siva, and it brings forth blessings

and joy. This dust rubs off the dirt from the beautiful mirror in the

shape of the devotee's heart, and when this is applied to the

forehead as tilak, it attracts a host of virtues.

 

The dust of Guru's feet is a soft, agreeable and soothing ointment.

It is the nectar for the eyes and remedies the defect of vision.

After having brightened my eyes of discernment from the dust of

Guru's feet, I now proceed to relate Sri Rama's story, which secures

freedom from the bondage of this earthly world.

 

( Perhaps the only example where the dust collected from under Sri

Ramana's feet and kept as a memento, helped the devotee in a

miraculous manner is provided by Papaji, an earnest and ardent

devotee of Sri Ramana from the West Punjab, now in Pakistan. Refer

write-ups in June and July 2004 issues of this magazine.)

 

Complete Ramacharitamanasa with English translation is available

from Gita Press Book Shop, Dilshad Plaza, Sultan Bazaar, Hyderabad –

95. Phone: 24758311.