Did you know that Sharanagati, surrender unto the Lord is a Vedic and Puranic scriptural tradition, a philosophical theme, available to all castes, which is the only easy method of attaining salvation and preventing rebirth?
Sharanagati, also spelled Saranagati, in Vedic and Puranic scriptural tradition, a philosophical theme, a Sanskrit usage which is means of attaining spiritual realization. It is self surrender, perfect resignation of oneself to the Divine - Narayana-Krishna - in the tradition of Sri Vaishnavism and Vaishnavism. It signifies an integral dedication of the body , mind and the soul at the altar of Divine Dispensation.
Namaha signifies Sharanagathi . This one word signifies the entire wisdom of Vedanta as it prescribes the self - offering of the Jiva to the Paramatman.
The process of Sharanagati forms the basis of devotion to Vishnu in the bhakti traditions within the Sri Sampradaya, propounded by Sri Ramanujacharya (1017–1137 CE). Sri Ramanujacharya who propogated the Vishishtadvaita philosophy considered surrender to Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi to be the highest goal of life. It is also practiced by the Advaitins of Shankara Bhagavatpada who categorically declared Sharanagathi is the only way for liberation.
The process of Sharanagati forms the basis of devotion to Vishnu in the bhakti traditions of Vaishnavas within the Sri Sampradaya or the Gaudiya Sampradaya. In epic Ramayana, Hanuman or Maruthi is considered the symbol of Sharanagati. Ramayana is primarily and rightly called "Sharanagati Veda"; it involved Sugriva sharanagati in Dandakaranya, sharanagathi of Samudra Raja , Vibhishana sharanagathi to Lord Rama, and the sharanagathi of Rakshasas to Sita Bhakti.
In the Sri Vaishnava tradition, the Sharanagati is divided into following six principles:
1. Accepting those things that are favorable for devotion to God (anukulyasya sankalpa)
2. Rejecting those things that are averse to surrender to God (pratikulyasya varjanam)
3. Considering God to be one's protector in all circumstances (raksisyatiti visvasa)
4. Accepting God as one's maintainer (goptrtve varanam)
5. Surrendering everything in God's service (atma-niksepa)
6. Cultivating a humble attitude (karpanya)
Sharanagati Gadyam is a coomposition by Sri Ramanujacharya, one of the first bhakti prayers in the Sri Vaishnava school of thought and is the basis for many prayers, which enunciates Sharanagati to the Lord. It is a pure expression of bhakti and describes a transcendental conversation between Ramanuja and Narayana with Sri (also known as Lakshmi).
Bhudevi, consort of Vishnu, recalled to the Lord, his defined three ways to reach the Lord Vishnu as - Offering lot of flowers at your feet; chanting your names aloud to a group, and surrendering at your feet complelety in Sharanagti. Thus, to propogate these principles she took birth as God, Andal , on earth to guide inocent children of the earth by teaching them the above three way.
Bhudevi took birth in earth and became the foster daughter of Periyalvar (originally called Vishnuchithan), one of the 12 Alvar the Tamil poet-saints of South India, who used to offer garlands made of flowers from his garland to Lord Ranaganatha of Srirangam, Bhudevi was called Andal and hailed as Godha soon followed the footsteps of her father Parialvar and started making and offering garlands to the Lord Ranganatha, for which she earned the sobriquet Chhodikooduththa Nachiyar who offered the garlands only after adorning it herself first. As a devoted disciple of her father she imbibed all stories of Lord Krishna and was quite fascinated by the Lilas ( "divine play") of Krishna and developed a deep devotional love for the Lord. Perfecting the knowldege of all scriptures she soon became a poet in her own right and scripted pasurams or hymns to the Lord and with her friends danced and rejoiced to the songs she composed. She composed 30 songs called Thruppavai and also sung 143 hymns compiled as Nachiyar Tiurumozhi, as she believed in Sharanagthi to the lord. She finally in state of Sharanagati after marrying Ranganatha , she got imbibed with the Lord. She is hailed as the only female Alvar saint among the famed 12 Alvar saints, worshipped as an incarnation of Goddess Bhudevi, and her 30 hymns of Thiruppavai are sung during the month of Dhanur Masa or Margazhi masam (mid December to mid January).
Bhagavad Gita which presents a synthesis of Hindu ideas about dharma, theistic bhakti, and the yogic ideals of moksha, enunciates five divine principles, and these are: 1. Inner peace (Atma Gnana; 2) Stable mind (Sthita pragna; 3) focus on means (Karma Yoga; 4) Mode of goodness (satva guna; 5) Surrender (Sharanagati).
The easiest path to self realization is the surrender of ego i.e. 'Sharanagathi'.”
Lord Gautama Buddha said, ''Karmas can be erased through Dhyana, through meditation, and through Sharanagathi.''
Narasipur Char
