Sharanagati

Sharanagati (Sanskrit: शरणागति; IAST: Śaraṇāgati ) or Prapatti (Sanskrit: प्रपत्ति; IAST: Prapatti), is the process of total surrender to God (Narayana-Krishna) in Vaishnavism. The process of Sharanagati forms the basis of devotion to Vishnu in the bhakti traditions within the Sri Sampradaya, propounded by Ramanuja (1017–1137 CE), and the Gaudiya Sampradaya, founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1482–1533 CE). Ramanuja considered surrender to Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi to be the highest goal of life, while Chaitanya emphasised surrender to Krishna and his consort Radha as supreme through physical surrender to the preceptor/guru.

Etymology

The term prapatti comes from Sanskrit root pad and the prefix pra (pra+pad), meaning "to take refuge with/in". In Sri Vaishnavism, it refers to the act of total self-surrender at the feet of God as a means to attain liberation (moksha), which is understood as joining "Vishnu's retinue" in Vaikuntha. Thus, prapatti is closely associated with the concept of soteriological surrender.^[1]

Vatakalai and Tenkalai schools

In Sri Vaishnavism, the Vatakalai and Tenkalai schools understood prapatti as self-surrender to God. The concept was already expressed in the 11th century writings of Ramanuja, though the two schools interpreted in different ways. The Vatakalais viewed prapatti as one among several paths to liberation (moksha), suited for those unable to follow demanding practices. The Tenkalais saw prapatti as the sole path to liberation, with complete surrender through total reliance on God's grace.^[1]^[2]

Literature

Sri Vaishnava texts offer their recognition of the practice of Sharanagati. Yamunacharya posited this approach as an alternative to the conventional practices of seeking salvation:^[3]

Na dharmamanistosmi na catmavedi
na bhaktimam stvaccaranaravinde \ akincano ananyagatissaranya tvatpadamulam saranam prapadye ||
The path of surrender (Saranagati) is open for one who is unable to follow the path of action (Karmayoga), knowledge (Jnanayoga) and devotion (Bhaktiyoga), and who has no other way of salvation
— Yamunacharya, Stotra Ratna

Vedanta Desika's commentary on this sloka offers his perspective:^[3]

Ahamasmyaparadhanamalayokincano gatihi
tvamevopayabtuto me bhaveti prarthanamatihi Saranagatirityukta sa deva smin prayujyatam
Saranagati is a state of mind of praying to God that he alone should become the means of saving the devotee, associated with the realisation that the devotee is utterly helpless, sinful, and without any other hope of salvation
— Vedanta Desika

Vedanta Desika's Niksheparaksha presents prapatti as a distinct and valid path to liberation, separate from the bhaktiyoga of Ramanuja's works. It follows Sanskrit scholastic norms and omits references to Alvars and their texts. In this text, Vedanta Desika presents prapatti as grounded in the Caramashloka (Bhagavad Gita verse 18.66), where Krishna's invitation to surrender is interpreted as a self-sufficient means to salvation. While Ramanuja views the verse as affirming bhaktiyoga, Vedanta Desika sees it as emphasizing prapatti as an independent path.^[4]

Initiation

The formal ritual of Sharanagati is a Vedic and Puranic scriptural and tradition backed ritual called the Pancha-Samskara, or "the five impressions", and another name is Samashrayanam. The individual receives the following:^{[citation needed]}

Nama Samskara: An initiation 'spiritual' name such as a name of Vishnu, or one of his devotees (such as Ramanuja), suffixed with the word dasa (meaning "servant", or servant of). Examples of these could be Vishnu dasa, or Ramanuja dasa.
Pundra Samskara: Application of the tiruman, or the Urdhva Pundra, on the forehead and 12 marks on certain parts of the body, which signifies that the individual belong to Vishnu, and that their bodies, minds, and souls are the temples of Lakshmi-Narayana.
Thapa Samskara: Special branding on the shoulders of the conch (Panchajanya) and the chakra (Sudarshana) of Vishnu by a guru.
Yajna Samskara: Learning to perform the archana or puja, or ritual worship, of Lakshmi-Narayana from the guru.
Mantra Samskara: Learning three special mantras dedicated to Vishnu from the guru.

Three mantras in Sri Vaishnavism

In Sri Vashnavism, three sacred mantras, understood as rahasya (secrets or mysteries), express the act of saranagati:^[5]

Tiru Mantra: aum namo narayanaya, meaning "Om, praise to Narayana".
Carama Sloka: sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah (Bhagavad Gita verse 18.66^[6]), meaning "Having completely given up all modes of righteousness, to Me alone come for refuge. From all sins I will free you. Do not grieve".
Dvaya Mantra: srimannarayaṇa-caraṇau saranam prapadye, srimate narayanaya namaḥ, meaning "I approach for refuge the feet of Narayana along with Sri; praise to Narayana with Sri".

Principles

Sri Vaishnavism

In the Sri Vaishnava tradition, the Sharanagati is divided into six principles:^[7]

Accepting those things that are favorable for devotion to God (anukulyasya sankalpa)
Rejecting those things that are averse to surrender to God (pratikulyasya varjanam)
Considering God to be one's protector in all circumstances (raksisyatiti visvasa)
Accepting God as one's maintainer (goptrtve varanam)
Surrendering everything in God's service (atma-niksepa)
Cultivating a humble attitude (karpanya)

Gaudiya Vaishnavism

In the Gaudiya tradition, the Sharanagati is divided into six principles:^[8]

Ānukūlyasya saṅkalpaḥ – Accepting what is favorable for devotional service (bhakti).
Prātikūlyasya varjanam – Rejecting what is unfavorable for bhakti.
Rakṣiṣyatīti viśvāsaḥ – Having firm faith that Bhagavān will protect the devotee.
Goptṛtve varaṇam – Accepting Bhagavān as one’s sole maintainer.
Ātma-nikṣepaḥ – Full surrender of oneself to Bhagavān.
Kārpaṇya – Feeling humility and helplessness before Bhagavān.

Five Limbs

In Vishistadvaita, the Saranagati bears 5 elements: the five limbs, referred to as angas, and the adherent of these, known as an angi.^{[citation needed]}

Acknowledgement of one's helplessness
Determination to not err again
Vowing to follow the rules
Possessing an unshakeable faith that God is the sole refuge
Seeking God as one's protector

Synonyms

In Gitarthasangraha (an analysis of the Bhagavad Gita), Yamuna identifies saranagati as a key theme of Chapter 7 of the Bhagavad Gita. Ramanuja, in his commentary, also echoes this, but uses the word prapatti instead, treating it as synonymous with saranagati. Ramanuja also introduces samasrayana to denote seeking refuge in the "human form of the deity", such as Krishna. While prapatti and saranagati are used interchangeably to denote refuge in God, samasrayana refers more narrowly to refuge in an incarnate, accessible form of God.^[9]

References

^ ^a ^b Raman 2007, p. 11.
^ Carman, John; Narayanan, Vasudha. The Tamil Veda: Pillan’s Interpretation of the Tiruvaymoli. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. pp. xii.
^ ^a ^b Umakantham. C (2001). Greatness Of Saranagati In Sri Vaishnavism.
^ Akepiyapornchai, Manasicha (2022-04-01). "Vedāntadeśika's Systematization of Rāmānuja's Self-surrender (prapatti): A Study Based on the Nikṣeparakṣā". International Journal of Hindu Studies. 26 (1): 89–112. doi:10.1007/s11407-022-09312-3. ISSN 1574-9282.
^ Clooney, Francis X. (2007). "Exegesis, Theology, and Spirituality: Reading the Dvaya Mantra According to Vedānta Deśika". International Journal of Hindu Studies. 11 (1): 27–62. ISSN 1022-4556.
^ www.wisdomlib.org (2020-05-08). "Verse 18.66 [Bhagavad-gita]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2025-05-02.
^ www.wisdomlib.org (2017-04-30). "Sharanagati, Śaraṇāgati, Sharana-agati: 7 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2025-04-19.
^ Dasa, Satyanarayana. The Concept Of Saranagati In Gaudiya Vaishnavism.
^ Raman 2007, p. 27.

Sources

Raman, Srilata (2007). Raman, Srilata (2007). 'Self Surrender (Prapatti) to God in Sri-Vaishnavism - Tamil Cats & Sanskrit Monkeys'.

External links

The Hindu newspaper dated January 08-Sunday-2017 (article: Tiruppavai leads us to Sri Vaikuntha) Special Issue - Vaikunta Ekadasi
Sri Vaishnavism: an Elementary treatise for beginners, published Sri Thillasthanam Swamy Kainkarya Sabha, Bangalore India & the Sri Vishishtadvaita Research Centre, Madras India https://sites.google.com/view/tsksabha/home/srivaishnavism-saranagathi

[FOOTNOTERaman200711-1] Raman 2007, p. 11.

[2] Carman, John; Narayanan, Vasudha. The Tamil Veda: Pillan’s Interpretation of the Tiruvaymoli. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. pp. xii.

[Umakantham-3] Umakantham. C (2001). Greatness Of Saranagati In Sri Vaishnavism.

[4] Akepiyapornchai, Manasicha (2022-04-01). "Vedāntadeśika's Systematization of Rāmānuja's Self-surrender (prapatti): A Study Based on the Nikṣeparakṣā". International Journal of Hindu Studies. 26 (1): 89–112. doi:10.1007/s11407-022-09312-3. ISSN 1574-9282.

[5] Clooney, Francis X. (2007). "Exegesis, Theology, and Spirituality: Reading the Dvaya Mantra According to Vedānta Deśika". International Journal of Hindu Studies. 11 (1): 27–62. ISSN 1022-4556.

[6] www.wisdomlib.org (2020-05-08). "Verse 18.66 [Bhagavad-gita]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2025-05-02.

[7] www.wisdomlib.org (2017-04-30). "Sharanagati, Śaraṇāgati, Sharana-agati: 7 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2025-04-19.

[8] Dasa, Satyanarayana. The Concept Of Saranagati In Gaudiya Vaishnavism.

[FOOTNOTERaman200727-9] Raman 2007, p. 27.

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