Sri Guru-Paduka-Puja-Vidhih: How to Worship the Sandals of the Guru (Sanskrit Text With Transliteration and English Translation)

About the Book:

Devotees who attended the guru-paduka-puja conducted by Brni. Dhruti Chaitanya were touched and expressed the desire to have the puja-vidhih (procedure of worship) made available to them. Thus the material - the mantras and the actions to be performed - has been put into this booklet with explanation. Following the procedure of worship as taught by H. H. Swami Chidananda and her Acarya H. H. Swami Subodhananda, the compiler here has made it suit the needs of today's functions.

Through worship, we are able to give concrete expression to our love for the Lord/Guru. Regular practice of pooja further strengthens our devotion and purifies our hearts. Such worship is a great Sadhana and leads us to the highest knowledge.

Swamini Nischalananda completed her Vedanta study course in 1991, at the foot of Himalayas, in Sidhbari, Himachal Pradesh. Drawn to spirituality by the inspiration she received while attending the discourses on Shrimad Bhagavat Geeta of H.H. Swami Tejomayananda at Garden Crest in Mumbai during 1986-89, she made up her mind to devote her life to spiritual practices. After her studies under the guidance of H.H. Swami Subodhananda, she was incharge of publications of CCMT's Books Division for nearly 5 years. She then served Chinmaya Mission Mulund as the Acarya for nearly two years. From 1997, she has been stationed in sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Mumbai and has been doing prachar and seva. In 1999, she took a unique resolve (sankalpa) to perform 108 paduka-poojas of Pujya Gurudev in one year, in different houses of devotees, as an offering to the great master. She has completed 185 such pujas in different houses and other places, as this booklet goes to press.

Foreword:

Puja, Ritualistic Worship, is an effective sadhana (Spiritual practice) to purify our mind. Employing our body, speech and mind, we perform puja for inner development. Physical action like offering flowers and ringing the bell, vocal actions like chanting mantras and singing hymns and mental actions like feeling the presence of God, constitute the procedure of ritual. As we sincerely do it day after day, our devotion to the Lord further increases and flows as an undercurrent all through the day's activities. We shall in fact find that God is with us at all times.

I am very happy that Brni. Dhruti Chaitanya has compiled this booklet on Pujya Gurudev's Paduka-Pujra. Our Master is God for us. He is our protector and constant guide. Worshipping him takes us to greater heights of spiritual perfection. I compliment Dhruti on this work and express the hope that maximum number of devotees will take the benefit of this compilation.

April 26, 2001

(Swami Tejomayananda)

Publishers' Note:

The book is your hand, "Shri Guru-Paduka-Puja-Vidhi", is published in response to popular demand. Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayanandaji touched the hearts of countless people and new generations also are looking at him with reverence. To go with many occasions, the puja (ritualistic worship) of his sandals is an expression of our devotion to the Truth that he symbolised. A guru stands on his sandals (padukas) and also he stands on the strength of his wisdom. So traditionally the worship of guru-paduka has been an adoration of spiritual wisdom.

We are happy to place this before the seekers, which has been possible because of review and valuable touch up given by H. H. Swami Chidananda. We are confident that members of the Mission worldwide will use this booklet for the benefit of gatherings as well as at their homes.

May Pujya Gurudev's blessings be upon all.

Mumbai
May 8, 2001.

Central Chinmaya Mission Trust