Significance of Padaka Puja
Padukas (Sandals)
The Guru "stands" upon the platform of the Eternal Values of Dharma: Truth, Love, and Service, taught in all Scriptures of the world. His Padukas are "closest" to the platform/ foundation. To worship that upon which He stands is to commit ourselves to grow in devotion to those values and their demonstration in our daily lives.
Flowers
'Vaas' means 'smell' or 'fragrance'. 'Vasanas' are the tendencies which shape our personality. Whether criminal or loving, they are the result of the ignorance of our True Nature. Flowers represent the Vasanas which we offer at the Feet of the Saint as an unloading and as a means to the purification of the mind, making it fit for contemplation.
Coins
These represent the wealth accumulated through our ego-centric activities in the world.
Names
While performing' Archana', every name uttered, followed by 'Namaha’ indicates our sense of surrender of the ego to the Supreme Reality or to His Divine qualities and glories. For example, "OM AJAYA NAMAH" means "To that Unborn Lord our Prostrations". "OM GEETA JNANA YAGNAPRACARAKAYA NAMAH" means "Our prostrations to Him who disseminates the Knowledge of the Scriptures through Geeta Jnana Yagna."
Guru Dakshina
As the puja concludes, the devotee offers "Dakshina" in the form of fruits and funds. These are a token of his/her love and reverence unto Him for His Divine Service of Humanity.
The Guru in turn gives fruit (prasad) to the devotee as a symbol of his Grace and blessings to live a happy and prosperous life in dedication to the Divine.
The Guru is complete unto Himself. He has fulfilled the purpose of life and abides always in the Bliss of Pure Awareness. He neither wants nor needs anything of the world.
He is Pure Instrument for the flow of the Lord's Grace upon all. All that is received immediately flows out to others so that they may benefit and grow steadily on .the Path of Spiritual Evolution.
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Pujas