Saranagati
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Saranagati (Sanskrit for "surrender"), in the devotional school of Hindu denominations known as Vaishnavism, is the process of total surrender to God (in this case Vishnu or Krishna).
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)
The process of Saranagati forms the basis of devotion to Godhead in the bhakti traditions founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1482–1533 CE) and Ramanuja (1017–1137 CE). Ramanuja and his followers consider surrender to Visnu to be the highest goal of life, while Chaitanya emphasizes surrender to Krishna and his consort Radha as supreme.
