Book X / I
The Lotus Feet
Very frequently, we come across the term Charan Kamal in the scriptures of various religions.
Listen, oh simpleton! Learn to fall at the feet of a Guru.
Guru Nanak, Sri Rag M1
If your thoughts be centred on the feet of the Guru, you will get all your desires fulfilled.
Guru Arjan, Asa M5
In the Gospels also we find references to anointing and kissing the feet of Christ. Among the Hindus and Muslims there is still the custom of doing obeisance by touching the feet of divines and holy man. Let us try to understand the significance or import of injunctions and practices like these.
*A Living Master is a great necessity in the science of Spirituality. He is the central figure around Which the entire system revolves. He is the Human Pole through Which the Divine Power works in this world. Without His guidance and help, one can do nothing and achieve nothing. No wonder then that one has to surrender oneself at the Holy Feet of the Master. As Kamal or the lotus flower is considered to be something sublime and sacred, the feet of the Master are generally spoken of as Charan Kamal or the Lotus Feet, fit to be worshipped and adored in all sincerity and humility.
Without the munificence of a Guru one gets naught, though one may engage in millions of meritorious deeds.
Guru Amar Das, Maru M3
Set aside all thy wisdom and fall at the feet of a Guru.
Guru Arjan, Sri Rag M5
* (This section is adjusted to the Fourth Edition of 1981;
Editor’s Note 2011.)
Be thou the dust of Sadhus' feet and forget thyself altogether, leave all thy cunning and learning and fall at the feet of the Guru.
Guru Arjan, Sri Rag M5
Leave aside all thy wisdom and knowledge, and fall at the feet of the Saints.
Guru Arjan, Gauri M5
Listen, thou ignorant self, learn to fall at the feet of the Master, be thou devoted to the Word and then thou shalt have no fear of death. The unfortunate ones have a heavy load on their heads and can never be happy.
Guru Nanak, Sri Rag M1
It is with a writ in the forehead that one communes with the precious Word, and thy works shall be fashioned out by devotion to the holy feet of the Master.
Guru Arjan, Sri Rag M5
Think of the King of Kings – the Lord of Creation, depend on Him alone who is immanent in all; cast aside all thy artifices and get hold of the Master's feet.
Guru Arjan, Sri Rag M5
Oh dear self! Thou wouldst be blessed by devotion to the all-pervading Power, serve day and night at the feet of the Master, for that is the true devotion to the Lord.
Guru Nanak, Sorath M1
From exhortations like the following of Guru Arjan, it is clear that he wants us to find a living Master and surrender ourselves to him, to profit from his company and close association by moulding our life and conduct according to his pattern, for in this lies the secret of spiritual success. 'To contact the feet of a Guru' in this context means to meet a Master and enter his fold.
Bow at the feet of His devotees.
Guru Arjan, Gauri M5
Remain always in the company of the Saints, and be devoted to the feet of the Master.
Guru Arjan, Sri Rag M5
Blessed is the moment when I see the Master, let me be a holocaust at the feet of the Master.
Guru Arjan, Vadhans M5
I live simply to see you and to do obeisance at your feet.
Guru Arjan, Suhi M5
I get constantly enlivened by seeing the Master, and quench my thirst with the washings of his feet.
Guru Arjan, Gauri M5
May I always live in the sweet remembrance of the Word and be blessed in body and mind; let me drink the washings of thy feet, oh merciful Master pine. Blessed indeed was the time when I reached thy door, oh Lord; oh Nanak, God in His utmost mercy let me to the door of the Perfect Master.
Guru Arjan, Suhi M5
The feet of the Master are often spoken of as a Pool of Sacred Nectar that grants salvation to the world-weary pilgrims on the Path.
Listen ye to the Saints: Salvation lies in true Word, service at the feet of the Master and devotion to his Word is the true pilgrimage. Such a one is acceptable at His Court and obtains a seat of honour.
Guru Arjan, Sri Rag M5
Again there is abundant sweetness, strange and peculiar, in the feet of the Master, and untold blessings flow therefrom.
Sweet are the lotus feet of the Master, with God's writ one sees them; myriad are the merits that follow such a blessed vision.
Guru Arjan, Todi M5
The washings of their feet are taken to be an Elixir of Life, by taking which one gets Life Eternal. To meet a living Master is no easy task. Really blessed is a person who has the good fortune to come across one and recognize him.
Oh Nanak! It is extreme good fortune of one to cast aside pride and fall at the Master's feet.
Guru Arjan, Asa M5
Oh Nanak, it is through fullness of karma that one gets devoted to the feet of the Master.
Guru Arjan, Asa M5
Nanak says: Blessed am I, that I serve the feet of a Sadh.
Guru Arjan, Gauri M5
It is with the grace of God that one gets an opportunity to meet a living Master and have loving devotion for his feet:
God linked me with a Saint, and I found a boon companion, and acquired love for His feet.
Guru Ram Das, Asa M4
He on whom God showers His mercy begins washing the feet of a Satguru.
Guru Ram Das, Gauri War M4
God has Graced me with His Mercy, the feet of the Master are now implanted in me.
Guru Arjan, Majh M5
Blessed is the day when a person engages in the service of the Master's feet and bows in all humility before him and touches his lotus feet with his forehead and beard.
Blessed are the eyes that see the Master's Form, blessed is the forehead that touches his feet.
Guru Arjan, Gauri M5
Blessed is the day that I met the Master, and did obeisance at his feet.
Guru Arjan, Gauri M5
Blessed are the beards that touch his feet.
Guru Amar Das, Shalok M3
Bhai Gurdas says in this context:
Through ages one has had a human birth, but blessed is the life wherein one takes refuge at the Master's feet, lessed are the eyes that behold the Master, blessed the ears that hear the Master, blessed the nose that smells the fragrance of his feet, blessed the tongue that repeats the words of the Master, blessed the hands that serve the Master, blessed the feet that circumambulate the Master.
Bhai Gurdas, Kabit 17
Refuge at the feet of the Master includes the merit of millions of pilgrimages, even the gods and goddesses are eagerly engaged in the service of the Master; refuge at the feet of the Master brings about fruition of all desires. All supernatural powers flow from him and so doth immortality; refuge at the feet of the Master takes one to the region of desirelessness. Devotion as enjoined by him works out salvation from bondage; refuge at the feet of the Master has a merit that is inconceivable, he works without any thought and is the potential cause (material and efficient) of all that exists.
Bhai Gurdas, Kabit 72
Since the time I took refuge at the feet of the Master all the world seems engaged in worshipping at his feet; His lotus feet constitute a pool of the Water of Life (Charan-Amrit); I wish and long for the dust of his feet – the dust that has created the Universe. His lotus feet are the true wealth and a true haven of peace, they grant ineffable vision and lead to the Path God-ward: His lotus feet have a glory that is indescribable and incomprehensible, not this, not this, I bow to thee again and again, oh Lord.
Bhai Gurdas, Kabit 217
It is really a great blessing to have a living Master. We have in the scriptures countless merits that accrue from the lotus feet of the Master. He dispels all our sorrows and afflictions. One is rid of the deadly sins of lusts and passions, attachments and desires. The body and mind both get purified. Freed from all bondage, one takes life as it flows by, unfettered and unaffected, fearless of what may come – including death itself, which he knows how to meet. With the Power of the Word, he leads a life of perfect contentment and ecstasy and rises into Universal Consciousness and hereafter lives at all times at the level of the soul. This is Jivan Mukti or liberation while living.
Blessed is the time I see the Master, and make an offering of myself at his feet.
Guru Arjan, Vadhans M5
A true Satguru is a great Donor, when I see him all my ills vanish; His lotus feet are worthy of adoration.
Guru Arjan, Sarang M5
I adore the feet of the Satguru, Guru is the helmsman and his Word the barque by which we cross over.
Guru Nanak, Asa M1
A glance of Grace from the Satguru is more than millions of kingships; the moment he manifests the Word, my body and mind feel exhilarated; but it is with the writ of God that one gets devoted to the feet of the Sat Guru.
Guru Arjan, Sri Rag M5
Whatever the condition, sitting or standing, I sing the virtues of the Lord and my sorrows and afflictions disappear. Nanak says: it is with the fullness of Karma that the mind gets attached to the feet of the Master.
Guru Arjan, Sorath M5
All things are added unto him who casts a loving look at the Master; those whose minds are fixed in the feet of the Master are truly blessed.
Guru Arjan, Sri Rag M5
Nanak says: If it be so ordained, leave all pride and be engaged in the feet of the Master.
Guru Arjan, Asa M5
Blessed are those whom the Satguru has accepted, Nanak is ever attached to the feet of the Master.
Guru Nanak, Asa M1
As ye sow, so shall ye reap, and reap the seeds sown in ages past, on whomsoever He showers His mercy, he washes the feet of the Satguru.
Guru Ram Das, Gauri War M4