Guru Padukas - Significance and Importance

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GURUPADUKA'S – SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPORTANCE

 

DIGAMABARA DIGAMBARA SREE PAADA VALLABHA DIGAMBARA

 

Sri Dattatreya is the Guru avataar of God. Other avataaras of God

were for specific purposes. But Sri Datta's avataar was only for Guru

kaarya i.e.., for the purpose of Guru parampara,, for lokakalyan

(betterment of the entire world). Thus Dattatreya is prefixed with

Sri Gurudev.

 

In Sri Guru Datta upaasana, the PADUKA puja is given prime

importance. Since Sri Dattatreya is of Guru swaroopa (stature), the

worship of his lotus feet has always been given importance. In the

Datta sampradaya the Guru's feet assume more importance than the

Guru's forum. It is a very old custom to worship the feet of Sri Guru

or the Ishta Devata's feet. When Srirama went into exile his younger

brother, Bharata kept SriRama's sandals on the throne, signifying his

divine feet as a mark of love, respect and worship for his elder

brother.

 

One expresses respect and reverance for a great person by touching

one's forehead to the person's feet. It is said the Yoga secret

behind this action being that the divine strength of great persons

lied centered in their feet. By a mere touch a disciple or disciples

get a measure of that divine strength from the master. Thus most of

the Datta kshetras give importance to the Padukas than the form of

Sri Gurudeva Dattatreya. Girinar, Ganagapur, Narsobawadi, Oudumbar

and all other Datta kshetras have Sri Dattaguru's Padukas. As the

worship of "SHALIGRAM" signifies worship of Lord Vishnu, the worship

of "SHIVALINGA" signifies the worship of Lord Shiva, so also in Sri

Datta upasana, padukas assume significance and importance. Thus Sri

Gurudeva Datta's Padukas are worshipped in the SAGUNA and NIRGUNA

(Gross and subtle) forms.

 

:: AVADHOOTHA CHINTHANA SREE GURUDEVA DATTA::

 

SHRI BHAGAWAN DATTATREYA GURU PAADUKAAM SAMARPAYAAMI

 

subrahmanyam.bharathula