H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji in His Upanyãs on Bhakta Charitra at Iyyappan Temple, Anna Nagar, Chennai: “Guru Pãduka is the ladder to Moksha. Pãduka is verily the Sadguru. The Pãduka is verily the Guru/God. Sri Rama blessed His beloved brother Bharata with His Pãduka. Sri Rama blessed His Consort Sita with His Pãduka. Sri Krishna gifted His Pãduka to His loving disciple and friend Uddhava. By giving the Pãduka the Guru/Bhagavãn gives Himself away.”

Bharata was sorrow stricken. He rushed to the forest in search of Sri Rama. Sri Rama gave His Pãduka to Bharata, which was a great medicine to the wounded heart. It was with this Pãduka on the throne that Bharata ruled Sri Rama’s kingdom. And it is said that not a single mishap occurred during the rule of the Pãduka!

Sita was living at Sage Valmiki’s asram with her young sons Luv and Kush. One day the young sons asked their mother Sita, “Oh! Mother! Who is our father?” Sita pointed out to the Pãduka that was being worshipped daily and said, “This is your father!” The children bowed down reverentially to the Pãduka! ‘IT’ was Sri Rama Pãduka!

Uddhava the ever faithful and loving disciple followed His Master and Lord, Sri Krishna, like a shadow all his life. At the time of Sri Krishna’s departure from earth Uddhava shed tears. “Oh! Krishna! How will I bear this separation?” Sri Krishna gave him several spiritual instructions and finally instructed him to leave for Badaryãshrama. In spite of having transcended the three gunas, Uddhava experienced excruciating pain in leaving the physical presence of His dear Lord Sri Krishna. Sri Krishna presented Uddhava with His Pãduka, which the latter placed on his head.

Vishnupriya and mother Sachidevi were at home shedding tears profusely. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had embraced sanyãs. Their very life and breath had left them. It was then that they heard the sound of Namasankirtan! Both stood up with excitement. The sound of the Namasankirtan drew near until it was heard at their doorstep!

“Let me take one last look at my Lord!” thought Vishnupriya and peeped through the window. And there stood Chaitanya Mahaprabhu at their door singing the glory of the Lord.
“Shastra or no Shastra I will but once go out and fall at His feet!” Vishnupriya rushed out. She fell at her Prabhu’s feet and held His Pãduka with her hands. Tears flowed in a gush down her cheeks. Her hair was disheveled. Mahaprabhu was singing the Name of the Lord. Slowly drawing His Lotus Feet from the Pãduka, Mahaprabhu walked away bare feet! Vishnupriya held the Pãduka close to her heart and rushed into her home. From that instant the Pãduka was her Mahaprabhu and she spent her life serving “IT”.

Ãndavan Pitchai was given sanyãs by her Guru Swami Sivananda at Rishikesh asrama. Her Guru then instructed her to return to Chennai. The deeply devoted disciple was grief stricken. Her pleadings to let her remain at His (Guru’s) side were not acceded to. However, Swami Sivananda blessed her with His Pãduka. She returned to Chennai with her Guru’s Pãduka.

Bhagavãn Ramana Maharshi who walked bare feet all his life at Tiruvannamalai conceded to the request to bless two Pãdukas for installation in ‘Sundara Mandiram’ at Tiruchuzi where He was born and at No.11, Chockappa Naicken Street, Madurai (now Ramana Kendram) where He had had the ‘great experience’!

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