Saranagati or
Prapatti (
SanskritSanskrit is a historical Indo-Aryan language, one of the liturgical languages of Hinduism and Buddhism, and one of the 22 official languages of India. It is also declared as a classical language by the government of India....
for "surrender"), in the devotional school of Hindu denominations known as
VaishnavismVaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu or his associated avatars, principally as Rama and Krishna, as the original and supreme God. This worship in different perspectives or historical traditions addresses God under the names of Narayana,...
, is the process of total
surrenderTo surrender in spirituality and religion means that a believer completely gives up his own will and subjects his thoughts, ideas, and deeds to the will and teachings of a higher power. The term is also used in a similar manner, in some schools and approaches to psychology, in which sense it is an...
to God (
VishnuVishnu , , is the Supreme God in Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God...
or
KrishnaKrishna is a deity worshipped across many traditions in Hinduism in a variety of perspectives...
). The process of Saranagati forms the basis of devotion to
GodheadGodhead may refer to:*deity*divinity, the quality of being God*Conceptions of God**Godhead , the unknowable aspect of God which lies beyond His actions or emanations...
in the
bhaktiBhakti in practice signifies an active involvement by the devotee in divine worship. The term is often translated as "devotion", though increasingly "participation" is being used as a more accurate rendering, since it conveys a fully engaged relationship with God...
traditions within the
Sri SampradayaSri Sampradaya or Sri Vaishnavism is a Vaishnava sect within Hinduism. While its origin is lost in antiquity, its codification is generally traced back to around the 10th century when a collection of the devotional hymns and songs by Alvars was organized by Sri Nathamuni, who is considered to be...
, founded by Ramanujacharya (1017–1137 CE) and the
Gaudiya SampradayaGaudiya Vaishnavism is a Vaishnava religious movement founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in India in the 16th century. "Gaudiya" refers to with Vaishnavism meaning the worship of Vishnu...
, founded by
Chaitanya MahaprabhuChaitanya Mahaprabhu , was a monk and social reformer of eastern India in the 16th century...
(1482–1533 CE). Ramanuja considered surrender to Visnu and His consort
LakshmiLakshmi is the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity, light, wisdom, fortune, fertility, generosity and courage; and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm...
to be the highest goal of life, while Chaitanya emphasizes surrender to Krishna and his consort
RadhaRadha is the principal devotee of Krishna in the Bhagavata Purana, and the Gita Govinda of the Hindu religion. Radha is almost always depicted alongside Krishna and features prominently within the theology of today's Gaudiya Vaishnava religion, which regards Radha as the original Goddess or Shakti...
as supreme.
The formal ritual of Saranagati or Prapatti is a Vedically and Puranic, scripturally and tradition backed ritual called Pancha-Samskara or "the five impressions" and another name is Samashrayanam.
Discussion
Ask a question about 'Saranagati' Start a new discussion about 'Saranagati' Answer questions from other users |
Saranagati or
Prapatti (
SanskritSanskrit is a historical Indo-Aryan language, one of the liturgical languages of Hinduism and Buddhism, and one of the 22 official languages of India. It is also declared as a classical language by the government of India....
for "surrender"), in the devotional school of Hindu denominations known as
VaishnavismVaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu or his associated avatars, principally as Rama and Krishna, as the original and supreme God. This worship in different perspectives or historical traditions addresses God under the names of Narayana,...
, is the process of total
surrenderTo surrender in spirituality and religion means that a believer completely gives up his own will and subjects his thoughts, ideas, and deeds to the will and teachings of a higher power. The term is also used in a similar manner, in some schools and approaches to psychology, in which sense it is an...
to God (
VishnuVishnu , , is the Supreme God in Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God...
or
KrishnaKrishna is a deity worshipped across many traditions in Hinduism in a variety of perspectives...
). The process of Saranagati forms the basis of devotion to
GodheadGodhead may refer to:*deity*divinity, the quality of being God*Conceptions of God**Godhead , the unknowable aspect of God which lies beyond His actions or emanations...
in the
bhaktiBhakti in practice signifies an active involvement by the devotee in divine worship. The term is often translated as "devotion", though increasingly "participation" is being used as a more accurate rendering, since it conveys a fully engaged relationship with God...
traditions within the
Sri SampradayaSri Sampradaya or Sri Vaishnavism is a Vaishnava sect within Hinduism. While its origin is lost in antiquity, its codification is generally traced back to around the 10th century when a collection of the devotional hymns and songs by Alvars was organized by Sri Nathamuni, who is considered to be...
, founded by Ramanujacharya (1017–1137 CE) and the
Gaudiya SampradayaGaudiya Vaishnavism is a Vaishnava religious movement founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in India in the 16th century. "Gaudiya" refers to with Vaishnavism meaning the worship of Vishnu...
, founded by
Chaitanya MahaprabhuChaitanya Mahaprabhu , was a monk and social reformer of eastern India in the 16th century...
(1482–1533 CE). Ramanuja considered surrender to Visnu and His consort
LakshmiLakshmi is the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity, light, wisdom, fortune, fertility, generosity and courage; and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm...
to be the highest goal of life, while Chaitanya emphasizes surrender to Krishna and his consort
RadhaRadha is the principal devotee of Krishna in the Bhagavata Purana, and the Gita Govinda of the Hindu religion. Radha is almost always depicted alongside Krishna and features prominently within the theology of today's Gaudiya Vaishnava religion, which regards Radha as the original Goddess or Shakti...
as supreme.
The formal ritual of Saranagati or Prapatti is a Vedically and Puranic, scripturally and tradition backed ritual called Pancha-Samskara or "the five impressions" and another name is Samashrayanam. The individual receives the following:
- An initiation 'spiritual' name such as a name of Vishnu
Vishnu , , is the Supreme God in Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God...
or one of his devotees such as Ramanujacharya, suffixed with the word dasa (meaning "servant" or servant of). Examples being Vishnu dasa, or Ramanuja dasa. (Nama samskara)
- Tiruman or Tilaka
200px|thumb|right|Indian woman with tilaka and bindiIn Hinduism, the tilaka or tilak is a mark worn on the forehead and other parts of the body, not to be confused with a bindi...
on the foreheand and 12 marks on certain parts of the body, which signifies that they belong to Vishnu and that their bodies, minds and Souls is the walking temple of Laxshmi-Narayana. (Pundra samskara)
- Special branding on the shoulders of the Counch (Panchajaya) and Chakra or wheel (Sudarshana) of Vishnu by the guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . As a principle for the development of consciousness it leads the creation from unreality to reality, from the darkness of ignorance to the light of knowledge...
. (Thapa samskara)
- Learning to do Archana
Archana may refer to:*Archana Gupta, a South Indian actress*Archana , a Telugu movie actress*Archana Nair, an American Malayali*Archana , a type of puja*Archana...
or Puja or ritual worship of Laxshmi-Narayana from the Guru. (Yajna samskara)
- Learning three special mantras to Vishnu from the guru. (Mantra Samskara)*
In practice
Saranagati is divided into six divisions:
- 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)