Surrender to the Holy Feet

Rendering of the Holy Feet of Lord Balaji at Tirumala. Materials used: Pencil and charcoal. 

चरणं पवित्रं विततं पुराणं येन पूतस्तरति दुष्कृतानि ।

तेन पवित्रेण शुद्धेन पूता अति पाप्मानमरातिं तरेम ॥

charaṇam pavitram vitatam purāṇam yena pūtastarati duShkṛtAni |
tena pavitreṇa shuddhena pūtā ati pāpmānamarātin tarema ||

charaṇam – Feet (virtuous conduct/ Carana Devata, Vishnu/ Narayana)
pavitram – Pure  
vitatam – Pervasive
purāṇam – Ancient (eternal / having no past)
yena – By which
pūta:– One who is made holy
tarati – Crosses over
duShkṛtAni – Effects of evil deeds

tena – By that
pavitreṇa – By what is purifying
shuddhena – What is intrinsically pure
pūtā – Made holy
pāpmānam – Sin
arātim – Enemy
ati tarema – Overcome

This is a mantra specified in Mahanarayanopanishad.

Meaning:

“Being purified by the all-pervading and the Eternal Being’s feet (also, virtuous conduct/character), man gets rid of the effects of evil deeds. 

By that which is intrinsically pure, may we too become purified, and overcome the sins, which is our enemy, and be freed from impurity.” 

The ‘Being’ which is referred to here, with all virtues and perfect conduct is Lord Vishnu, in line with the phrase, Purusheshu Vishnu:

The implied meaning of the feet referred here is the feet of Lord Vishnu. 

In traditional practice, the mantra is recited while elderly Brahmanas’ feet are ceremoniously washed, or even when prostrating to Guru or elderly Brahmanas treating them as the Holy Feet of Lord Vishnu Himself. 

Philosophically, it implies the Charanagathi Tattva: 

The word charanagathi means that one seeks refuge at the holy feet of the Almighty. By surrendering ourselves, the ego/individuality is destroyed making us one with the Supreme. 

By a simple act of falling at the feet of the Guru or Elderly Brahmanas, considering them as the Eternally Pure Being (that is, Vishnu Himself), one’s ego (which is the cause of all the sins) is shrunk and ultimately destroyed, freeing oneself from the bondage of Samsara - cycles of birth and death. 

Let us also completely surrender at the holy feet of the Lord, which is eternal, pure, and all-pervasive.