<p>A spiritual seeker (sadhaka) should never fail to prostrate before his guru (spiritual master) and touch his feet. This is a gesture of utmost importance. Every individual is subject to the influence of the five elements. The only defense against the consequences of their interplay is guru’s grace.<br /><br />Sri Hanumat Kali Vara Prasad (popularly known as Babuji in his lifetime) explained the significance of prostration: "By touching the feet of gurudev, you are requesting the master to purify what you have done with your hands, ears, eyes, nose and tongue. <br /><br />Then if you concentrate your look on the master's eyes, the master infuses spiritual strength in you through 'pranavanada' (the mind getting absorbed in Brahman) and his 'chinmudra' (a gesture in which the index finger touching the thumb while the other three fingers are relaxed) exhorts you to get rid of the 'trigunas' (the three attributes of purity, activity and indolence) and become one with the lord. When the master raises his right hand the five fingers symbolize protections from the universe filled with the five elements and indicates that you should not yield to the temptation of the five senses, but surrender yourself to god who illuminates the five elements."<br /><br />If the master's look purifies, the master's touch liberates: "While prostrating, when your hands touch the guru's feet they get purified. When the entire body lies on the ground, it liquidates the misdeeds done by you. By this surrender, the disciple rids himself of undesirable thoughts and becomes pure in mind and enhances their spiritual power. It is impossible to estimate the purificatory power of the guru."<br /><br />"The satya guru offers protection to his disciples by spreading spiritual rays on their raised heads after their prostrating. That is why disciples always like to stay in the company of the master who protects them. Their blessings offer protection to one and all. Prostration done by a disciple washes off all his or her blemishes and makes them pious." Finally, it is important to understand that the guru is not the body. And that there is no difference between God, guru and Parmeshwara.</p>
<p>A spiritual seeker (sadhaka) should never fail to prostrate before his guru (spiritual master) and touch his feet. This is a gesture of utmost importance. Every individual is subject to the influence of the five elements. The only defense against the consequences of their interplay is guru’s grace.<br /><br />Sri Hanumat Kali Vara Prasad (popularly known as Babuji in his lifetime) explained the significance of prostration: "By touching the feet of gurudev, you are requesting the master to purify what you have done with your hands, ears, eyes, nose and tongue. <br /><br />Then if you concentrate your look on the master's eyes, the master infuses spiritual strength in you through 'pranavanada' (the mind getting absorbed in Brahman) and his 'chinmudra' (a gesture in which the index finger touching the thumb while the other three fingers are relaxed) exhorts you to get rid of the 'trigunas' (the three attributes of purity, activity and indolence) and become one with the lord. When the master raises his right hand the five fingers symbolize protections from the universe filled with the five elements and indicates that you should not yield to the temptation of the five senses, but surrender yourself to god who illuminates the five elements."<br /><br />If the master's look purifies, the master's touch liberates: "While prostrating, when your hands touch the guru's feet they get purified. When the entire body lies on the ground, it liquidates the misdeeds done by you. By this surrender, the disciple rids himself of undesirable thoughts and becomes pure in mind and enhances their spiritual power. It is impossible to estimate the purificatory power of the guru."<br /><br />"The satya guru offers protection to his disciples by spreading spiritual rays on their raised heads after their prostrating. That is why disciples always like to stay in the company of the master who protects them. Their blessings offer protection to one and all. Prostration done by a disciple washes off all his or her blemishes and makes them pious." Finally, it is important to understand that the guru is not the body. And that there is no difference between God, guru and Parmeshwara.</p>
