Caraṇāmṛtam — The Nectar of the Sacred Feet
Caraṇāmṛtam (Sanskrit: caraṇa = foot + amṛta = nectar/immortality; 'the nectar of the feet') is the consecrated water that has washed the feet of the Āchārya or the feet of the Lord's icon. This water is considered the most potent form of tīrtham in the Śrī Vaiṣṇava tradition — carrying directly the grace-force of the sacred feet it has touched.
Why the Feet: The feet are the lowest part of the body — receiving water from the feet is the ultimate gesture of humility. Yet in the spiritual hierarchy, the Āchārya's feet and Bhagavān's feet (divya-pādāravinda) are the highest — 'the lotus feet of the Lord contain the entire universe; how much more potent, then, is the water that has touched them?'
Āchārya Pāda Tīrtham: When a disciple visits the Āchārya, one of the greatest honours is receiving āchārya pāda tīrtham — water that has washed the Āchārya's feet. The Mumukshuppadi and Śrī Vachana Bhūṣaṇam both stress the incomparable sanctity of Āchārya pāda tīrtham. 'A single drop of Āchārya's pāda tīrtham received with faith can dissolve the karma of countless births.'
During Thiruvaradhana: In home worship, caraṇāmṛtam is obtained after the deity's feet are ritually bathed — this water is preserved in the pañca pātram and distributed to all who worship.