29: Gratitude to Guru🔗

Question: What is the reason we do puja at the Gurus feet? Why do people want to touch the Gurus feet?

Swamiji answers: It’s an ancient tradition in the Vedic tradition. When you are showered so much by the Guru with His knowledge, experience, love, blessings, and everything. When He showers you, out of overflowing gratitude, you don’t know what to do, so you offer whatever you have at His feet. That is the way the tradition of Guru puja started in the Vedic tradition. This is the oldest ritual. Understand, the oldest and sacred ritual is Guru puja. The moment the first disciple was initiated; Parvathi-Adi Shakthi is the first disciple. The moment she was initiated with the experience of Shiva, in that extraordinary gratitude she fell at Shiva’s feet, and offered whatever she had at His feet. So the first ritual of Guru puja started Because of the overflowing gratitude you pour yourself at the feet of the Master. And the same way touching the Guru’s feet is also the feeling of offering yourself at His feet. There is no logical reason for why Guru puja is done, why people touch the Guru’s feet. It is an emotional feeling connection. For some people it looks like why should I do it? For some people it is life; they can’t live without it. Understand, it is the individual’s emotion. I also wanted to tell you one more thing. Do all this only if you feel intensely connected to it; not otherwise. It should not be done as a ritual. See, as far as yoga is concerned, whether you want it or not, it has to be done, because you are working on the body. But when the Guru puja comes, it is in your mind. Your mind itself should feel it. Out of ecstasy and joy, you should be pouring it.

So there is no logical reason for – 'what is the reason we do puja at Guru's feet? Why do people want to touch the Guru's feet?' There is no logical reason. Just, that's the way it is; that's all. That is the way it is.