Guru’s paduka are the pair of sandals of guru, which are symbolically represented as “the boat to help cross the endless ocean of life.” Guru Paduka mandala is located at our top of the head and is known as Guru Chakra inside the crown center.
Worshipping the padukas has been a part of not only Indian tradition, but many as a way of showing respect to the lineage of masters who have preserved the knowledge for us. In Ramayana, when Lord Rama refused to return to Ayodhya kingdom during exile, Bharat ji also refused to coronation for himself. Bharat ji then carried the Paduka of Lord Rama to the kingdom and placed on the throne, thereby worshipping him as guru, guide and king.
Guru Paduka Stotram was given by Adi Shankaracharya. It is a very powerful chant that glorifies the Footwear of the Guru. This chant is a prayer in the lotus feet of Guru for getting His Grace.
Once Adi Shankaracharya was travelling across the country in search of his Guru when he came upon a cave on the banks of River Narmada. He saw the padukas of Govind Bhagavatpada ji outside the cave and immediately recognized them as his master’s. He was filled with abundant joy.
GURU PADUKA STOTRAM
anantasaṃsāra samudratāra naukāyitābhyāṃ gurubhaktidābhyām I
vairāgyasāmrājyadapūjanābhyāṃ namō namaḥ śrīgurupādukābhyām I 1 I
anantasaṃsāra- of the endless cycle of birth and death.
samudratāra- that crosses us across the ocean.
naukāyitābhyāṃ- which are like boat.
gurubhaktidābhyām- which bestows devotion to guru.
vairāgyasāmrājyada- bestows upon us the kingdom of dispassion.
pūjanābhyāṃ- worthy of worship.
namō namaḥ- I repeatedly bow down.
śrīgurupādukābhyām- to the holy footwear of the guru.
Salutations and Salutations to the sandals of my Guru,
Which is a boat, which helps me, cross the endless ocean of life,
Which endows me, with the sense of devotion to my Guru,
And by worship of which, I can attain the dominion of renunciation.
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kavitvavārāśiniśākarābhyāṃ daurbhāgyadāvāṃ budamālikābhyām I
dūrikṛtānamra vipattatibhyāṃ namō namaḥ śrīgurupādukābhyām I 2 I
Kavitvavārāśi- that propels the oceans of intelligence.
niśākarābhyāṃ- which are like rays of the Moon.
daurbhāgyadāva- the fires of misfortune.
aṃbudamālikābhyām- waters that quench.
dūrikṛtā- repels.
namra- those who bow down to them.
vipattatibhyāṃ- dangers that might befall.
namō namaḥ- I repeatedly bow down.
śrīgurupādukābhyām- to the holy footwear of guru.
Salutations and Salutations to the sandals of my Guru,
Which is the ocean of knowledge, resembling the full moon,
Which is the water, which puts out the fire of misfortunes,
And which removes distresses of those who prostrate before it.
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natā yayōḥ śrīpatitāṃ samīyuḥ kadācidapyāśu daridravaryāḥ I
mūkāśrca vācaspatitāṃ hi tābhyāṃ namō namaḥ śrīgurupādukābhyām I 3 I
natā yayōḥ- to those who prostrate before them.
śrīpatitāṃ samīyuḥ- the lords of all riches.
Kadācidapyāśu- which very easily.
daridravaryāḥ- the poorest.
mūkāśrcha- a mute person.
vācaspatitāṃ- the master of speech.
hi tābhyāṃ- to them.
namō namaḥ- I repeatedly bow down.
Śrīgurupādukābhyām- to the holy footwear of guru.
Salutations and Salutations to the sandals of my Guru,
Which make those who prostrate before it,
Possessors of great wealth, even if they are very poor,
And which makes even dumb people in to great orators.
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nālīkanīkāśa padāhṛtābhyāṃ nānāvimōhādi nivārikābhyāṃ I
namajjanābhīṣṭatatipradābhyāṃ namō namaḥ śrīgurupādukābhyām I 4 I
nālīka +nīkāśa- which are like lotuses.
padāhṛtābhyāṃ- which carry the feet.
nānā- various kinds of.
Vimōha+ādi- delusions
nivārikābhyāṃ- which remove.
namat+jana+abhīṣṭa- the wishes of devotees who bow down to them.
tati+pradābhyāṃ- immediately fulfil or give.
namō namaḥ- I repeatedly bow down.
Śrīgurupādukābhyām- to the holy footwear of guru.
Salutations and Salutations to the sandals of my Guru,
Which attracts us, to lotus like feet of our Guru,
Which cures us, of the unwanted desires,
And which helps fulfill the desires of those who salute.
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nṛpāli maulivrajaratnakānti saridvirājat jhaṣakanyakābhyāṃ I
nṛpatvadābhyāṃ natalōkapaṅkatē: namō namaḥ śrīgurupādukābhyām I 5 I
nṛpāli mauli- decorated in the crowns of kings.
vrajaratnakānti- of jewels.
sarid- pond.
virājat- which shine bright.
jhaṣakanyakābhyāṃ- like young fishes.
nṛpatvadābhyāṃ- bestows kingship.
natalōkapaṅkatē:- to thoses who bow down to them.
namō namaḥ- I repeatedly bow down.
Śrīgurupādukābhyām- to the holy footwear of guru.
Salutations and Salutations to the sandals of my Guru,
Which shine like gems on the crown of a king,
Which shine like a maid in the fishes/crocodiles infested stream,
And which make the devotees attain the status of a king.
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pāpāndhakārārka paramparābhyāṃ tāpatrayāhīndra khagēśrvarābhyāṃ I
jāḍyābdhi saṃśōṣaṇa vāḍavābhyāṃ namō namaḥ śrīgurupādukābhyām I 6 I
papa+andhakāra- for the darkness caused by sins.
Arka+ paramparābhyāṃ- which are like an array of multiple suns.
tāpa+traya- of three types of sorrows. (daihik, daivik, bhautik).
ahīndra- to a great snake.
khagēśrvarābhyāṃ- which are like eagle, the king of birds.
jāḍyābdhi saṃśōṣaṇa- that dried up the ocean of ignorance.
vāḍavābhyāṃ- like a volcano.
namō namaḥ- I repeatedly bow down.
Śrīgurupādukābhyām- to the holy footwear of guru.
Salutations and Salutations to the sandals of my Guru,
Which is like a series of Suns, driving away the dark sins,
Which is like the king of eagles, driving away the cobra of miseries,
And which is like a terrific fire of volcano drying away the ocean of ignorance.
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śamādiṣaṭka pradavaibhavābhyāṃ samādhidāna vratadīkṣitābhyāṃ I
ramādhavāndhristhirabhaktidābhyāṃ namō namaḥ śrīgurupādukābhyām I 7 I
śama+ādi+ṣaṭka- six types of noble qualities like shama etc.
prada+vaibhavābhyāṃ- whose glory bestows.
samādhidāna- provides eternal trance.
vratadīkṣitābhyāṃ- to disciples.
ramādhavānghri- at the feet of lord Vishnu.
sthira+bhaktidābhyāṃ- provide unfaultering devotion.
namō namaḥ- I repeatedly bow down.
Śrīgurupādukābhyām- to the holy footwear of guru.
Salutations and Salutations to the sandals of my Guru,
Which endows us, with the glorious six qualities like shama, dama, uparati, titikshA, shraddhA, samAdhana
Which gives the students, the ability to go in to eternal trance,
And which helps to get perennial devotion to the feet of Vishnu.
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svārcāparāṇāṃ akhilēṣṭadābhyāṃ svāhāsahāyākṣadhurandharābhyāṃ I
svāntācChabhāvapradapūjanābhyāṃ namō namaḥ śrīgurupādukābhyām I 8 I
svārcāparāṇāṃ- to those who are devoted to their worship.
akhilēṣṭadābhyāṃ- which fulfil all the wishes.
svāhāsahāyākṣa- as the lord of three eyes, Shiva.
dhurandharābhyāṃ- these are as great.
svāntācChabhāva- the feeling of unity with one’s own self.
prada- give
pūjanābhyāṃ- worship worthy footwears.
namō namaḥ- I repeatedly bow down.
Śrīgurupādukābhyām- to the holy footwear of guru.
Salutations and Salutations to the sandals of my Guru,
who are as great as the three eyed Lord Shiva,
which bestows all desires of the serving disciples,
who are always absorbed in the self and which helps the aspirants to achieve the state of realization.
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kāmādisarpa vrajagāruḍābhyāṃ vivēkavairāgya nidhipradābhyāṃ I
bōdhapradābhyāṃ dṛtamōkṣadābhyāṃ namō namaḥ śrīgurupādukābhyām I 9 I
kāma+ādi+sarpa- to the snakes of lust etc. ( six types).
vrajagāruḍābhyāṃ- which are like the eagle.
Vivēka+ vairāgya- of the knowledge and dispassion.
Nidhi+ pradābhyāṃ- they provide the treasures.
bōdha+ pradābhyāṃ- they provide realization/ enlightenment.
dṛtamōkṣadābhyāṃ- the truth of ultimate liberation instantly.
namō namaḥ- I repeatedly bow down.
Śrīgurupādukābhyām- to the holy footwear of guru.
Salutations and Salutations to the sandals of my Guru
Which is the Garuda, which drives away the six type of serpents of passion, greed, anger, lust, pride, jealous etc.
Which provides one, with the treasure of wisdom and renunciation,
Which blesses one, with bodha, the enlightened knowledge,
And blesses the aspirant with speedy salvation.
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