108 Names of the Lotus Feet of Sai Baba in English
Footwear, Sacred and Secular
For most westerners, feet are covered in socks or stockings, and adorned with various forms of footwear - high heels, sneakers, running shoes, sand-shoes, boots. Some footwear is simply worn for fashion and even, for sexual allure. Laziness has some wearing sports shoes all the time, for recreation, work and physical activity. One can think of the famous Addidas Rome footwear as the start of this one 'shoe' for all activities.
In India, footwear is often referred to as chappals; sacred footwear is called Paadukas (or Padhugas). (*Many variant spellings exist)
In the western world, devotional activities focus on different forms of God, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Holy Spirit, various saints. The heart is the key, as the heart is the seat of feeling and where devotion flows from. Separation of head and heart is often separation from devotion and faith.
Examine closely the photograph above. Young girls are seeking the feet of Sai Baba. Sai Baba is actually placing sacred ash on their heads; why would they be ignoring Sai Baba's action and looking to his feet?
This is because devotion in the East is devotion to the feet of the deity, for the feet are the base, the support and the source of all grace.
One also finds that the footwear of the Lord (called Paadukas) are used as objects of Devotion:
Tradition of Devotion to Paadukas - Footwear of the Lord
God takes names and forms to suit the sensibilities of His devotees and to show them the path to goodness, truth and peace. In the Vedic traditions, God has taken form many times (called avatars). There are ten avatars (called dasavatars - the lists of these avatars vary) and their purpose has been to destroy evil and restore righteousness at each stage of human evolution. Two of these divine incarnations (avatars) have been full incarnations of the Lord - that is to say, with all powers of the Formless God. The first of these was Lord Rama, sometimes called Ramachandra. The tradition of worship of the footwear of the divine incarnation began with Lord Rama.
The story of Lord Rama centres around the destruction of an evil one by name of Ravanna; Rama, son of King Dasaratha, is exiled to forest for 14 years; the people of his kingdom were disconsolate without Rama, their rightful king. However, Rama stuck to his plighted troth and with integrity, stood up to his word and retired to the forest. Here begins the tale of how the worship of the footwear of the Lord began:~
Rama and his brother Lakshmana are in the forest. Lakshmana has seen the approaching horde led by his brother Bharatha, and fears that Bharatha has come to put an end to Rama and take the kingdom. Rama is ever serene and unruffled:
Even as Rama was speaking thus, Bharata came rushing towards Rama, fell at his feet, crying: "Rama! Rama! Rama!" and said: "I am not competent to rule over Ayodhya. To reign over the kingdom Ramachandra alone is worthy as the eldest son (of Dasaratha). You alone are fit to rule over the kingdom properly and establish Rama Rajya. Please return to Ayodhya". Thus pleaded Bharata.
As Bharata was entreating in this manner, Rama looked smilingly at Lakshmana. "Compare your feelings with the expressions of Bharata", he said.
Sage Vasishta also joined in the appeal to Rama to return to Ayodhya. But Rama did not yield to Bharata's entreaties and, acting according to Vasishta's directions, offered his sandals to Bharata and asked Bharata to perform the coronation for the sandals (padukas).
You must recognize the inner significance of this episode. People generally regard the sandals as objects to be despised. But Rama taught a different lesson about them. Rama treated the kingdom and the sandals on a par. "I don't want a crown. Enthrone my sandals".
Acting on Rama's injunctions, Bharata performed the coronation of Rama's sandals and spent his time peacefully, contemplating on Rama.
The Vedic term for this collection of prayers translates to garland of flowers offered to the Lord.
Observe closely the feet of Sai Baba in the photograph above. They appear to be swollen. They are not swollen by odemia; they are swollen with grace!
Surrender
On that great day in October 1940, whereupon Sathya Sai Baba declared his identity as Sai Baba, the sandals of the Lord were present. The photographer took the photo in Uravakonda, after the 14 year old Sathyanarayana Raju declared "I am Sai, my devotees are waiting!". When the photograph was taken, there was a rock in front of Sai; this was later revealed as an idol of Shirdi Sai. There are offerings, prasad, in front of the statue; if one looks to the far right of the image, one will see the wooden sandals are present:
Morevover, the song taught by the young Sai Baba was:
Oh mind! Hold on to the Feet of the Guru, and so cross the ocean of suffering.
The Lord Sai Baba, on his very annunciation day, 20 October 1940, is teaching all who are devoted unto God, to hold onto the Feet of the Guru (God) ... to take the mind and focus it totally and completely upon God; thus does one pass though this ocean of ups and downs, trials and troubles, called life. The mind has to focus, and the best place to focus is on the source of all grace: The Lotus Feet of very God.
So on this day of Revelation, many gifts are given: the Divine Name, the Divine Form, the Divine Life, the Divine Teaching, the Lotus Feet.
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