definition of Prapatti

[Guest guest]

---------------begin Jaganath's quote

What is quoted above is only the requirements for Prapatti for

Moksha. It is understandable why Pillai Lokacharya and

Manavalamaamunigal would not even talk about Prapatti for other

goals. That does not prove that Prapatti cannot be done for other

goals. What Swami Desikan wrote on the subject merely reflect what

is stated in the sastras. Even the Prapatti performed by

Yamunacharya was for furtherance of the cause of Srivaishnavism,

which is a little different from ensuring moksha for oneself, but

still well within the limits of one's service to Sriman Narayana.

----------------end quote

 

I think we should note the reason why Pillai Lokacharya and

Manavalamamunigal did not address Prapatti for other goals. It lies

within the Srirangam School's view of the nature of Prapatti itself,

a subject for which I am very much the novice. However, I would like

to provide my crude discussion of this subject below, and would

request that others more qualified will add to this. Please note

that this is not meant to challenge the views of Sri Vedanta Desika,

but only to clarify the Thengalai view of Prapatti.

 

The Thengalai traditions do not regard Prapatti as an act or sadhana

that propitiates certain fruits. Instead, Prapatti is viewed as what

Mumme calls "a simple one time affirmation" that the Lord is the

Upaya and the Upeya, which becomes insignificant, almost meaningless,

when compared to the Wondrous and Spontaneous Compassion of the Lord.

It is, as another noted scholar on the subject, Nancy Ann Nayar

calls, the "relinquishing of the idea that one is without a protector.

" After this, the Prapanna recognizes that he/she is reliant

completely on the Lord's Grace for the fulfilment of all spiritual

and material gains, including, of course, the Lord Himself, who is

the Ulimate Goal.

 

 

The Thengalai Acharyas believe that as Prapatti is an affirmation of

complete faith to the Lord, it would be sinful to perform it more

than once, as this would indicate mistrust of the Lord's promise in

the Geetha and the Ramayana -- that anyone who comes to Him just once

saying that he is the Lord's, will be assured all protection from

then on. If Prapatti were recognized to achieve any other fruits, we

would all be performing it repeatedly, to achieve the various

material and spiritual benefits that we desire.

 

 

Daasanu Daasan,

 

Mohan