1988 - Wooden Paduka (sandal) Worn By Arunagiri Yogishwara
| Archives of Sovereign Details | |
| Date/Year | 1988 |
| Origin of Item | Pushpa Samadhi |
| Item Type | Artefact |
| Item Dimentions | 4"w x 11.2"l x 1.5"d |
| Item Material | Other |
| Age of SPH | 10 |
| Associated Guru | Arunagiri Yogishwara |
| Location | Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, South India |
| Role in the Revival of KAILASA | The guru paduka of the Paramaguru of SPH are the symbol of the Guru-Shishya Parampara, which make up the backbone of KAILASA |
| Associated Kingdom | Kailasa Paramparagatha Adi Arunachala Sarvajnapeetha Samrajyam |
These wooden sandals are the direct representation and independent intelligence of Arunagiri Yogishwara, the embodiment of Paramashiva Himself. The guru paduka (holy sandals of the guru) are revered within Sanatana Hindu Dharma as a symbol of ultimate surrender to the Guru, the bestower of the supreme state, liberation and Enlightenment itself.
The Srī Guru Gītā is the divine book which is expressed from the supreme being, Bhagavan Paramaśiva Himself, where the glories of the Guru are extolled in the verses. With the most perfect disciple, His own Divine Consort, Devi Parāśakti seated on His lap, Paramaśiva sings the praises of the being to whom He Himself fully prostrates. It was in this intimate setting, underneath the kalpavṛkṣa tree, that the most upheld tradition in Sanatana Hindu Dharma, the guru śiṣya paramparā, was born from the primordial Guru, Paramaśiva and His first disciple Parāśakti. In this, Paramashiva elaborates on the significance of the gurupada, the Guru's holy feet in a series of verses.
एवं गुरुपदं श्रेष्ठं देवानामपि दुर्लभम् । गरुडोरगगन्धर्वसिद्धादिसुरपूजितम् ॥४८॥
evaṁ gurupadaṁ śreṣṭaṁ devānāmapi durlabhaṁ | garuḍoraga-gandharva siddhādi surapujitaṁ || 48 ||
48. Thus the space of Guru’s feet, gurupada, is ultimate and greatest, which is rare for even the Devas (gods) to attain. It is worshipped by Garuḍa, serpents, Gandharvas, Siddhas, and the Gods.
श्रुतिसारमिदं देवि सर्वमुक्तं समासतः । नान्यथा सद्गतिः पुंसां विना गुरुपदं शिवे ॥ ३२०॥
sṛutisāramidaṁ devi sarvamuktaṁ samāsataḥ | nānyathā sadgatiḥ puṁsāṁ vinā gurupadaṁ śive || 320 ||
320. O Śive (Auspicious One), this is the essence of all Śrutis. In this everything has been said in a concise summary. There is no other way to attain the ultimate destination or liberation for people without the feet of the Guru, Gurupadam.
The full Guru Gita is available at this link to completely immerse oneself...
In the life of Adi Shankaracharya, who was the incarnation of Paramashiva who happened on the Planet Earth in 144 BCE, he sang the verses of the Guru Paduka Stotram. The following is the first verse of the delectable verses sung by Adi Shankaracharya in the divine remembrance of his own guru, Govind Bhagavatpadacharya
अनंत संसार समुद्र तार नौकायिताभ्यां गुरुभक्तिदाभ्यां। वैराग्य साम्राज्यद पूजनाभ्यां नमो नमः श्री श्री गुरु पादुकाभ्यां॥१॥
Anantha samsara samudhra thara naukayithabhyam guru bhakthithabhyam, Vairagya samrajyadha poojanabhyam, namo nama sri guru padukabhyam.
The crossing of this Endless ocean of samsara (this mundane world) is enabled by the boat that is sincere devotion to Guru Showing me the way to the valuable dominion of renunciation, O dear Guru, I bow to thy holy sandals.
The young Avatār had these wooden sandals specially made when He was 10 years old. He took it to Aruṇagiri Yogīśvara to wear and energize them. Aruṇagiri Yogīśvara is the embodiment of Paramaśiva (the primordial Hindu Divinity) who assumed the form of a young Sanyasi (ascetic) and befriended The young Avatār as His Guru, in the unique Happening of 'Guru and Disciple' where the Guru is the embodiment of Paramaśiva and the disciple is the current incarnation of Paramaśiva! The relationship lasted nine months. Aruṇagiri Yogīśvara wore these sandals during that period of time. His feet imprint can be seen on the sandals till date (visible in the picture). Today, these most sacred guru paduka are still offered worship by the Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism, and preserved to serve the world as embodiments of the superconscious energy for eternity.