Padasevanam – or serving the Holy Feet of the Lord is another means of bhakti. The Feet of the Lord are stressed in Hinduism as we fall at the Feet of the Lord in surrender and seek help and protection. Padasevanam is a part of the Nava Vidha Bhakti taught by Sri Rama to Shabari. When we do the japa of the mantra or take the Holy Name of God or pray to Him, we focus on the Feet of the Lord and surrender unto Him. Being intensely attached to thinking or smaran of the Lotus Feet of the Lord is also Padasevanam. Along with the constant thinking of the Holy Feet of the Lord, visiting temples, seeing the Form of the Lord there, circum-ambulating around the form of God and the temples, visiting holy spots, bathing in holy rivers are all a part of Padasevanam. Following all these practices of Padasevanam helps us to advance in spiritual path.
Sri Maha Laxmi, the Shakti of Sri Vishnu is always doing Padasevanam of Sri Vishnu. Sri Vishnu lies on the Seshnag on the Shirasagar or Ocean of Milk in Yoga Nidra nurturing the world and taking care of the needs of all creation and Sri Maha Laxmi is seated at His Feet, pressing His Feet and giving Him comfort. She is doing Padasevanam bhakti.
The greatness of the grace from the Feet of Sri Rama is elaborated well in Ramayana. Ahilya was cursed by her husband Rishi Gautam for being in state of unawareness because of which she was tricked into a wrong relationship with Lord Indra. Because of the curse, she turned into a stone and lay at the ashram waiting for Sri Rama to come there and redeem her. When Sage Vishwamitra brought Sri Rama to the deserted ashram, the dust from Sri Rama’s feet touched Ahilya and she was transformed back into a living being. In her praise of Sri Rama, Ahilya says that her life was fulfilled when the dust from the feet of Sri Rama touched her.
Guha, the tribal king of Nishads ferried Sri Rama, Maa Sita and Sri Laxman across the Ganga river so that they could go to the other bank and continue their journey towards the forest for their exile period. Guha had already heard of the transformation of Ahilya into living flesh from a stone. He used this excuse to perform Padasevanam of Sri Rama. He told Sri Rama that he had to wash the dust off His Feet so that when He sat in the boat, the boat should not turn into a woman. He washed Sri Rama’s feet with the waters of Ganges and drank that water as prasad. Then he ferried them across the river.
Bharat – the brother of Sri Rama is an outstanding example of Padasevanam. When Sri Rama went into exile, Bharat went after Him and asked Him to come back. Sri Rama refused as He was fulfilling the word of His father. So Bharat took the Padukas or foot wear of Sri Rama and carried them on his head and installed them on the throne of Ayodhya. He worshipped the Padukas of Sri Rama daily and governed the kingdom as a servant of Sri Rama. The Padukas of Sri Rama ruled the kingdom. The devotion of Bharat to Sri Rama and his Padasevanam are exemplary. The peace, progress and prosperity in the kingdom of Ayodhya when it was ruled by the Padukas of Sri Rama was noteworthy.
Hanumanji by His bhakti and seva has won the heart of Sri Rama and is always seated at His Feet ready for doing seva. Nandi the bull who is the greatest devotee of Lord Shiva is always seated at the Feet of Lord Shiva ready for doing seva.
Padasevanam is done to the Guru by touching the feet of the Guru in humility, surrender and bhakti and by following the teachings and practices taught by the Guru. Completing the tasks given by the Guru in a spirit of seva and bhakti is also Padasevanam. We may not be physically near Guru or God but we can do mental worship or Padasevanam and live in surrender and bhakti.
