Sharanagati

Saranagati or Prapatti (Sanskrit for "surrender"), in the devotional school of Hindu denominations known as Vaishnavism, is the process of total surrender to God (Vishnu or Krishna). The process of Saranagati forms the basis of devotion to Godhead in the bhakti traditions within the Sri Sampradaya, founded by Ramanujacharya (1017–1137 CE) and the Gaudiya Sampradaya, founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1482–1533 CE). Ramanuja considered surrender to Visnu and His consort Lakshmi to be the highest goal of life, while Chaitanya emphasizes surrender to Krishna and his consort Radha 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 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 Tilak 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. (Thapa samskara)
• Learning to do 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:

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)

References

• Sri Vaishnavism: an Elementary treatise for beginners, published Sri Thillasthanam Swamy Kainkarya Sabha, Bangalore India & the Sri Vishishtadvaita Research Centre, Madras India
• Saranagathi - overview from Sri Vaishnava perspective
• Sa and Prapatti; overview of both
• About Saranagati - from the Gaudiya perspective