Audio Katha

The foot dust from the lotus feet of Rādhārānī should be the ornament of your body. Mahāprabhu says, “I cover My body with the anurāga, or the foot dust, which is decorated with kuṁkum, from Rādhārānī’s feet. I will not wear anything not colored with the dust from Rādhārānī’s lotus feet.” Kṛṣṇa also showed the value of this dust. He brought all the sakhās to Varṣāṇā and smeared His body with Śrīmatī’s foot dust. Then His color also became golden. This is called holī-līlā or dhūla-khela. Also in Dvārakā, Kṛṣṇa, with the help of Nārada, smeared this dust on His body, and showed the value of this treasure. Why do we wear white also? White is meant for the paramahaṁsas. Mahāprabhu says, “The saffron colored cloth of anurāga, like Rādhārānī’s foot dust, is a protective barrier, so that no one can come and acquire one’s love.” For Gauḍīyas, this cloth signifies one as being a maidservant of Śrīmatī Rādhārānī. Rādhikā-caraṇa-renū bhūṣana kariyā tanū. Take shelter of the lotus feet of Śrīmatī Rādhārānī. Then you are very great. Why should you go to anyone else for shelter? In this way, Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura advises the rāgānugā-sādhaka. How can you meet with Kṛṣṇa? How can Kṛṣṇa be pleased with you? Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura tells us to only take Rādhārānī’s foot dust. Śrī Bharata Mahārāja said: rahūgaṇaitat tapasā na yāti na cejyayā nirvapaṇād gṛhād vā na cchandasā naiva jalāgni-sūryair vinā mahat-pāda-rajo-’bhiṣekam Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.12.12 552 O King Rahūgaṇa, perfection in devotion cannot be achieved unless one bathes in the dust of the feet of great devotees. It can never be gotten by tapasyā, grand worship, renunciation, household dharma, Vedic hymns, or penance under the hot sun, surrounded by fire, or by submerging within cold water. Śrī Prahlāda Mahārāja said in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.5.32): naiṣāṁ matis tāvad urukramāṅghriṁ spṛśaty anarthāpagamo yad-arthaḥ mahīyasāṁ pāda-rajo-’bhiṣekaṁ niṣkiñcanānāṁ na vṛṇīta yāvat The lotus feet of Bhagavān Urukrama, who is praised for His uncommon activities, destroy all unwanted things in the heart (anarthas). However, mundane persons cannot be attached to His lotus feet until they cover their bodies with the dust from the lotus feet of great personalities who are absorbed in love of God and who are completely free from material attachments. The foot dust of pure devotees is supremely powerful. One who does not smear his body with this dust can never become purified and clean. In the Bhakti-sandarbha, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī tells us to slowly practice. Take this bhakta-pada-dhūli and the pada-dhūli of the mahā-bhāgavatas and the Vrajavāsīs. Then pray for the foot dust of Rādhārānī.