Glory of the Lord's Lotus Feet

Observance of right conducts has declined; 
Dharma has been endangered; 
Morality has nowhere to abide; 
What can I say about human existence? 
Morality and ethics are confined to books; 
The heart has become a foul dust-bin.

Embodiments of the Divine Atma! Wetness is the natural trait of water. Hardness is the attribute of stone. Sweetness is natural to sugar. Heat is the quality of fire. These are the Dharma (natural behavior) of substances. For the individual, Vancha (desire) is natural. Because man is sustained by desire, it is considered a Dharma (natural trait) of man. "Dharayati iti Dharmah" (Dharma is that which sustains). Man is sustained by desire. Man’s primary duty is to offer all his desires to God.

This means that the practice of Dharma calls for the offering of all worldly desires to God and developing inward vision. "Sarvadharman parityajya mamekam sharanam Vraja"— Renouncing all Dharmas, take refuge in Me alone, says Krishna in the Gita. This implies that man must make it his primary aim to offer to God all external sensory, physical desires and cultivate spiritual thoughts centered on the eternal.

Purity of Heart Is Essential for Spiritual Wisdom

To develop such a spiritual outlook and to inspire it in others, one has to possess Chitta suddhi (purity of heart). Spiritual wisdom can dawn only when there is purity of heart. Just as removal of weeds, tilling the land, sowing the seeds, and watering them, are required before the crop can be harvested on a plot of land, the field of the human heart has to be cleared of bad thoughts and bad feelings, watered with love, tilled by spiritual practices, and the seeds of the divine Name sown. Only then one is entitled to reap the harvest of Jnana (Divine Wisdom).

Today the spiritual exercises are confined to listening to talks and not to practicing the teachings. Listening has become a kind of disease. Merely after listening, men go about bragging that they know everything. This crazy boastfulness is deepening men’s ignorance.

One should ruminate over what has been heard. After rumination, one should do Nidhidhyaasa (put into practice the lessons). Only then there is the triple purity of thought, word, and deed. Today people are content with mere listening to discourses. This will not lead to Realization. Srinivasaraghavan referred to the practice of “Nama Likhita japam” (repeated writing of the Lord’s Name as a spiritual exercise). This practice promotes harmony in thought, word, and deed (first thinking about the Name of the Lord, then uttering it, and then writing it). All these three processes should be carried out with a pure heart.

"Sathyam" Indicates the True Form of Man

Total purity is essential for all Sadhanas (spiritual disciplines). To achieve this purity, one has to understand the difference between Shreyas (spiritual well-being) and Preyas (mundane happiness). True humanness consists in knowing the nature of the Atma (the Indwelling Spirit). Vak (speech), Manas (the mind), and Prana (the life-force) together constitute the Atma. The three syllables contained in the Sanskrit word Sathyam indicate the true form of man. Sat represents food, ee represents water, and Yam represents Surya (the Sun). The implied meaning of the term is that the Sun provides the water which helps man to grow food. When Sathya is interpreted in the reverse order, it means that the Reality is realized by the penance and control of the senses (Sat for Reality, Tha for Tapas, penance, and Ya for Yama and other forms of control over the senses).

Control of the senses and the desires arising from them is almost impossible. What can be done, however, is to turn all the desires towards the Divine. This will be rendered possible when one realizes that all the sense organs, the eyes, the ears, the nose, and the tongue derive their functional capacities from the Atma (Indwelling Spirit). It is the Chaitanya (the Atmic consciousness) that animates the sense organs and enables the eyes to see, the ears to hear, and the tongue to taste. The role of consciousness is like that of the current, which enables a bulb to shed light. It is because this Atmic consciousness is present in all beings, it has been described as Brahman.

Human Body Is an Instrument to Realize the Divine

Caught up in worldly desires, man does not realize his Divine nature. He identifies himself with the body, not realizing that it is temporary and perishable. The human body is nothing but an instrument for realizing one’s inherent Divinity. Man tries to know all about the universe but makes no attempt to know who he is. Man is leading an artificial life because of his ignorance of his reality. Man’s foremost endeavor must be to realize his divine nature. He is not a mere human being. He is truly Divine and has to realize this basic truth.

Man has to realize that all the limbs in his body function because of the divine power animating them. Too much importance should not be attached to these limbs intrinsically. Are not blind persons able to live without eyes? Are not deaf and dumb persons able to get on without the powers of hearing or speech? What matters is how these organs are used.

The saint Surdas wails in a soul-stirring song, "Oh Lord! In spite of being endowed with eyes, people are not able to see your beauty. Inspite of having ears they don’t hear your melodious voice." Men hear only useless gossip. They do not listen to auspicious and sacred things. Having eyes, they look upon people with hatred and jealousy.

Monkeys, donkeys, dogs, and pigs also have the same power of sight as humans. What is the difference between these animals and human beings? Animals eat, sleep, and procreate. If men are also doing these things, what is the difference between them and human beings? Animals love their young ones, but that love is temporary, but human love can last one’s entire life.

How Can One Sanctify the Body?

Man has to understand what it is without which he cannot exist. He can get on without eyes or ears or other organs, but not without Prana or Atma (life). This is called Prana Pratishtha (the installation of the divine Life-Force in man). In the mirror of the human body, the image of the Divine is reflected. Man foolishly considers the mirror as the Chaitanya (Reality). It is this consciousness that accounts for all that one is able to do and not the physical body.

How, then, is this body to be sanctified? By involving the body in actions related to the Atmic consciousness. This lesson was taught to Vibhishana by Hanuman. Hanuman told him that by mere repetition of Rama’s name, the vision of Rama cannot be experienced. Only by dedicating himself to the service of Rama, together with chanting His name, can he (Vibhishana) experience Sayujyam (oneness) with Rama.

Of what avail is it to recite all the 700 shlokas of the Gita, if one does not practice even a single teaching of the Gita? "Adweshta Sarva bhutanam" (Do not bear ill-will towards any living being), proclaims the Gita. This is the primary injunction of the Gita to mankind. This is based on the dictum that one Atma (Divine) dwells in all beings as the Antaratma (Indweller). What use is there in reciting the Gita if one has hatred towards others? You worship the Divine and hate the Divine in others. Your worship and your hatred cancel each other out and nothing remains to your credit.

Follow Lord Rama’s Injunctions

The Ramayana is regularly read and Rama is worshiped by the vast majority of the people in Bharat. There is a Rama temple in every village. But how many are living up to Rama’s commands? Rama chose to go to the forest to comply with His father’s promise. How many today obey their fathers' injunctions? Rama sacrificed the Kingdom and all comforts for the sake of upholding Truth. He said his sole aim was to promote the people’s welfare. He sought to serve the people in whom he saw the image of God.

No penance, no pilgrimages to sacred rivers, 
No study of scriptures nor the recitation 
Of the Lord’s name will be of any use 
For crossing the ocean of Samsara 
Without service to sajjana.

Sajjanam refers to those in whom Sat, the Atma, dwells. As the Atma dwells in all beings, Sajjana refers to one and all. When you serve Sat, which is the Reality in every being, you get the Awareness of Chit (Consciousness). With this Awareness, the heart is filled with Ananda (Bliss).

Annamacharya hailed the feet of the Lord as those which had been washed by Brahma himself, which are of Brahman Itself, which bear the burdens of the entire universe, and the burden of all human bodies. How is this done? The Divine is Purna-Swarupa (All-encompassing form). Just as the feet of the individual bear the burden of the human body, the subtle body of the Divine bears on its feet the entire universe. Without the feet, the body cannot move.

Significance of Greatness Conferred on Lord’s Feet

Recognizing that the macrocosm and microcosm are constituted by the same five basic elements, man should realize that the Divine is present in everything. Hence, man should chant the name of the Lord from the core of his heart and take refuge in the feet of the Lord. Annamacharya declared: "Oh mind! Take refuge in the lotus feet of the Lord. They will relieve you of all your miseries and lead you to the Divine."

When Bharata enthroned the Padukas (sandals) of Rama, Ayodhya was really protected by Rama’s sandals. Bhadhrachala Ramdas also sang in the same strain. "Oh Rama! I am holding on to your feet. I will not let you move even one step until you assure me your protection."

Tyagaraja, in a similar vein, declared that he would not allow himself to be tempted by the treasures offered by the Raja of Tanjaavur and he preferred the lotus feet of Sri Rama to all the wealth of the world.

“Feet” do not mean sandals made in silver or gold. Feet refers to the Divine that sustains everything. Why is such greatness conferred on the feet? Viewing the matter from the point of view of science, it will be noted that blood flows from the feet upwards to all parts of the body. It is this blood which sustains the entire body. The feet that bear the burden of the entire body are essential for life itself. When you seek refuge in the Lord’s feet, you can secure a vision of the Divine form.

Yashoda Catches Krishna Through His Footprints

Here is a small example from the early life of Lord Krishna in Gokulam to show what the Lord’s feet mean.

Krishna was known as one who used to steal butter from all houses and feed his friends and playmates too. As there were a lot of complaints about this naughty child, Krishna’s mother Yashoda caught hold of him one day as he was running away and asked him: "Why are you stealing butter from other houses while I offer you so much at home? Your mouth always smells of butter. Give up this habit. Otherwise, I will tie you to a mortar to restrict your movement. How do you do such things, being so small a child?" He smiled and ran away. Yashoda went from house to house in search of Krishna. He played a small trick. Yashoda could not move fast as she had a heavy body. She was in a fix how to trace him.

Krishna dipped his feet in milk in a house and ran from there, leaving behind the trail of his footprints caused by the milk. It was only with the help of Krishna’s own footprints that she was able to catch him. In fact, because she was so eager to get at him, Krishna himself helped her to trace him. Yashoda was able to catch the Lord only through footprints of HIS Feet.

The Lord’s feet are glorious in many ways. But they will confer blessings only if they are sought with real faith. The Lord’s feet contain the Divine insignia of Shankha (Conch) and Chakra (Discus). Shankha symbolizes Shabdha Brahman (the Cosmic Divine sound). The discus represents the Wheel of Time. The Sound and Time together represent the different cosmic aspects of the Lord. The entire universe originated from sound vibrations. These vibrations are related to Time. Sound and Time are inseparable and interdependent.

It is a common practice among rural folk to advise anyone who has committed a wrong to hold the feet of the person whom he has wronged. Once a man holds the other’s feet, it means that he has sought and secured the latter’s forgiveness. Nowadays, with all the Courts and legal processes, no one attempts to hold the feet of anyone. In the old days in the villages, if a man fell at the feet of another, the latter had no options but to forgive the supplicant.

Seeking the Lord’s Feet Is Seeking Forgiveness

The inner meaning of seeking the Lord’s feet is that thereby the Lord will forgive the sins of the penitent. But mere holding of the feet is not enough. One must be genuinely repentant and declare that he will not commit similar offenses again. Only then he will secure atonement. Embodiments of the Divine Atma! Different persons pursue different kinds of Sadhana. To realize the benefits of this Sadhana, they go to Ashrams. They adore elders and offer worship to them. As long as egoism remains in them, all these exercises are of no avail. Your egoism may even lead to your expulsion from the Ashram. Hence suppress the ego, bury the sense of possessiveness and develop attachment to the Atma to realize your true humanness. Envy, hatred, and anger are causing havoc among men. Even residents of the Ashram are filled with anger. Anger has been described as incense offered to sin. Therefore, while you are worshiping the Lotus feet or writing the Lord’s name, you have to get rid of these three evil traits.

Destroy the Ego, Do Your Duty and Help Mutually

At the outset, the ego has to be destroyed. Then anger will subside. Do your duty. Do not project your ego. Develop mutual helpfulness. Carry on your work with joy. Be friendly towards each other. It is only when you behave in this manner that you will realize the benefits of Likhita Japam and worship of the Padukas (Lord’s Sandals).

In the Sai organizations, the primary requisite is unity and mutual trust. Only with unity can you promote the well-being of the world. If there is discord within the organization, how can you serve others? Make forbearance your ornament. Through love, eliminate your bad traits. Leading members of the Sai organization, who undertake sacred activities such as Nama Likhita Japam and Paduka Seva should develop sacred qualities.

In Tamil Nadu, in numerous villages, devotees are engaged in Nama Likhita Japa and offering worship to Padukas. Together with these, they should also purify their hearts. Today in many parts of the world Nature is causing various disasters such as earthquakes, famines, floods, and volcanic eruptions. What is the reason? The spiritual lapses of man account for these calamities. Disturbances in the heart (human heart) are reflected in earthquakes. Fill your minds with good thoughts and engage yourselves in good actions. Chant the Lord’s name. When the ether is surcharged with the vibrations of the Divine name, the entire environment gets purified. Those who breathe this sanctified air will have pure thoughts. Purify the atmosphere, which is now polluted.

Discourse in the Purnachandra Auditorium on the day of Padhuka Pratishtha, on 7-10-1993.