Bhakti-Prapatti

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Bhakti is the consummation of karma, and jnana. If karma and Jnana does not

culminate in bhakti, then those are useless for a moksharti. The final

liberation(Moksha) is constant communion with God which is thus the

consummation of karma, jnana and bhakti. Bhakti, according to Ramanuja is not

a mere devotion but a loving contemplation of God. Almost anyone can show

moments of devotion, just like moments of vyraghyam (Eg., smashana vyragyam).

Bhakti is a continuous process of meditation till the final goal of moksha is

acheived. The subsidiaries that promote this are the ashtanga yogas. As the

name in it self says ashtanga (eight accessories) yoga (union). Here the

yoga or union we are talking about is with srimannarayana. Thus, there is no

real difference in the steps stressed by Ramanuja or other Srivaishnavas from

the ashtanga yoga of Patanjali. Patanjali simply refers to that entity as

Parama Purusha and for Srivaishnavas this Purusha is Srimannarayana. The

accessories are same, independent of what calls that one to which one is

merging into. For example, It takes the same effort to come to USA from

India, even if we refer to USA by a different name!

Thus, it is obvious that the Bhakti margha takes a lot of effort and thus is

for the Shaktas (not to be confused with worshippers of shakti).

 

Prapatti on the other hand is absolute self surrender to the supreme,

involving complete conformity, avoidance of opposition, the confidence of

protection, the choosing of divine as the saviour, and surrender of oneself

to God in all meekness. This implies complete surrender of I and mine to God.

This sincere and complete transfer of spiritual responsibility to the supreme

liberates one from human efforts and creates a condition for the flow of

divine grace. When one sacrifices one's ego at the altar of the supreme, the

Lord himself steps towards to receive. Prapatti is thus the direct means for

ashaktas (that is those who feel incompetent in the classical pathway of

meditative Bhakti and too impatient for the maturation of Bhakti).

I think it is here (sarva dharman Parityajya......, the Charama Shloka of

Gita) that the Lord's promise in the Gita that Kshipram Bhavati Dharmatma is

fulfilled.

 

Bhakti and Prapatti are not same, also not antagonistic to each other. In

Bhakti there is always an element of surrender and surrender involves an

aspect of Bhakti. The predominance of one or the other element determines

whether the path is Bhakti or Prapatti.

 

Prapatti is a short cut, for everyone, that means even for real sadhakas.

Because Prapatti is so easy, it is also easily overlooked and even confused

with more complex things. Also many (Non Srivaishnavas) use Bhakti and

Prapatti (Saranagati) pretty much as synnonims-just to mak ethe matter more

confusing.

 

K. Sreekrishna