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Source: The Hindu (http://www.the-hindu.com)

 

Surrender as means to liberation

 

CHENNAI, JULY 18. The main purpose of the Supreme Being's

incarnations was to re-establish righteousness in the world and

every manifestation has a unique message also to mankind. The

significant import of Rama's incarnation is His promise that He

would protect anyone who surrenders (Prapatti, Saranagati) to

Him. In the Srivaishnava tradition the Ramayana is hailed as the

``Saranagati Sastra'' - a scriptural text outlining the concept

of surrender to God as the means to liberation.

 

The rationale behind depicting Rama's auspicious traits right at

the outset by Valmiki is to instil hope in the heart of the

penitent that the Lord would condone his lapses if he submits to

Him. This is crucial to the operation of the Lord's grace. His

compassionate nature comes to the fore and makes Him overlook the

devotee's sins. The Kamba Ramayanam focusses on surrender to God

in the opening verse.

 

In his discourse on the Ramayana, Sengalipuram Sri B.Damodara

Dikshitar said that every canto of the epic, except the last one,

highlighted the concept of surrender. The first canto describes

how the celestials surrendered to God for protection of the

innocents who were being terrorised by the Rakshasas especially

Ravana and He promised them that He would incarnate on the Earth

for this purpose. The second canto highlights Bharata's surrender

to Rama when he beseeched Him to return to Ayodhya.

 

The Aranya Kanda describes the surrender of the sages in the

forest to protect them from the demons as they knew about Rama's

divine nature and hence regarded Him as their Lord and refuge.

The next canto describes Sugriva's submission to Rama to protect

him from his brother Vali who had inflicted untold suffering on

him. The Sundara Kanda of the epic which focusses on the exploits

of Hanuman also brings out his total surrender to Rama and his

exemplary devotion to Him.

 

The next canto delineates one of the paradigmatic instances of

Self-surrender cited by the preceptors - Vibhishana's surrender

to Rama after Ravana failed to be convinced by his advice and

persuasion to return Sita to Rama. It was in this context that

the Lord assured His protection to anyone who surrendered to Him.

 

While surrendering to God accepting Him as the means to

liberation one must resolve to do only such actions that will

please Him and also desist from those which displease Him. He

must repose total faith in God's grace and must feel humble

realising his helplessness. After surrendering to God he should

not worry about his eventual liberation and must accept

everything in life as divine will.

 

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