Pada Pooja

 Once, Swami was seated in the interview room, surrounded by a few fortunate students.

In that sacred closeness, the boys were blessed with the rare opportunity to gently press Swami’s Feet.

After a while, Swami looked at them and asked softly,

“What is Pada Pooja?”

One of the boys, seated right next to Him, replied innocently,

“Swami, what we are doing now is Pada Pooja.”

Swami smiled and said gently,

“No… no… this is not Pada Pooja.”

Another student, with a little more understanding, tried to explain:

“Swami, our tears of gratitude are like toyām and patram,

and our phalam—our merits and demerits—we are offering everything at Your Lotus Feet.”

Swami listened patiently, then shook His head again.

“No… no… no.”

Then Swami explained, slowly and clearly, so that it would remain etched forever in their hearts:

“Pada Pooja is when the Lord, in human form, leaves His footprints…

and you walk in those footprints.”

Not touching the Feet.

Not washing the Feet.

But living the message.

That is true Pada Pooja.

Jai Sai Ram.

SAMASTA LOKA SUKHINO BHAVANTU