Story of the Significance of a Saint's Shoes

As told by Somdutt Sharma, Gurgaon, India

A very dear brother devotee in Ananda India, Somdutt Sharma, when I (Cecilia) told him we were auctioning Swamiji's shoes, told me this most inspiring story about the deep meaning lying within a saint's shoes: his feet are our symbolic mean for salvation, so shoes carry those same vibrations.

A great sufi saint was living in Rajasthan, India, in the 14th century: Nizamuddin Olia.

One day, a very poor man went to visit Him, asking for material help: the saint explained to him that he really could not give him anything as he didn't own anything!

Still, as the man insisted, the saint gave him the only thing He had: His chappals (sandals).

On his way back home, the poor man, while mumbling in his mind what he would do with those sandals, was approached by another man, who had a question for him:

"Good man, do you know, by any chance, where Hazrat ( saint) Nizamuddin Olia lives?"

This man happened to be the famous musician and poet Amir Khusro, who had gathered a fortune by performing at the Delhi sultanate all his life: he was going to offer all his wealth, collected in a big bag, to his beloved Guru's Feet, to whom he wanted to dedicate his life from then on.

"Oh yes, I am just coming from Him", the poor man replied, "You see, I am very poor, I asked for His help, and he gave me His chappals!"

"What!",a dazed Khusro exclaimed," These are my beloved Guru's chappals? Here for you all my wealth, good man, take it, in exchange of those chappals!"