Efficacy of Rama’s Sripada Tirtham

Rama Paduka is held invaluable and equally efficacious is Rama pada tirtham, said Damal Perundevi in a discourse. When Rama’s feet touched a stone it transformed into Ahalya, offering her relief from curse. Guhan, the boatman who ferried Rama, Lakshmana and Sita across the Ganga as they began their fourteen-year vanavasa (banishment from kingdom), intrinsically felt the godliness in Rama, something even his father Dasaratha failed to notice and very cleverly obtained Rama pada tirtham for himself.

Agreeing to ferry Rama, Lakshmana and Sita across the river, Guhan allowed Lakshmana and Sita to board first. However, when Rama was about to get on, Guhan stopped him. A perplexed Rama informed him that he was on a pitru paripalanam (obeying his father’s stated command) mission and therefore, he needed to cross the river. Guhan promptly recalled the Ahalya episode and said, “If the dust from your feet converts my boat into a female, how will I carry on with my profession?” Rama immediately said he would wash his feet in the river before boarding, but Guhan wanted to perform the act himself. Guhan then proceeded to wash Rama’s feet thoroughly and then sprinkled that water on his head, with utter devotion, as Mahabali had once done.

Recalling this in Narayaneeyam, Narayana Bhattathiri says, “When you [Vamana] approached the place of the horse sacrifice, blinded by the power of your dazzling light, sage Sukra and others received you who were extremely handsome, and the blessed asura, with hairs standing erect all over his body, and with great devotion, washed your divine feet and sprinkled that water capable of cleansing all waters on earth on his head,” and asks Guruvayurappan to protect him.

Published - November 29, 2024 05:04 am IST