Saranagathi

Saranagati is a Sanskrit word that is generally translated as “surrender.” It is derived from the Sanskrit words saranam, meaning “refuge,” “protection” or “shelter” and agati, meaning “to go to” or “to come to.” In the context of Hindu and yogic philosophy, saranagati refers to total surrender to the higher Self or the supreme deity. 

In the bhakti (devotional) traditions, saranagati is the process that is the basis of devotion to either Vishnu or Krishna, depending on which god is considered supreme.

Saranaagathi is the Vaishnavam ritual of total surrender to Vishnu propagated by Ramanuja Charya. He considered surrendering to Vishnu and Lakshmi to be the highest goal of life.

Na Dharma Nishthosmi Na Cha Atmavedi

Na BhaktimansTvat Charanaravinde |

Akinchanonanyagati Sharanyam

Tvat Padamoolam Sharanam Prapadye ||

O Lord, I do not know Dharma, I do not know Dnyanam, I do not have Bhakti, I am at your divine Lotus Feet. All I have is  Akinchan (one who does not have anything), and Ananyagati (One who is totally dependent ONLY on You). This akinchan and ananyagati soul is surrendered to your Lotus Feet. Oh Vishnu help me to reach You.  Saranu Saranu.

Ashtakshara: it is as simple as Om Namo Narayana. Means- Om Vishnu pranaamam. I surrender myself to you. My janmam is to pray, do pooja, sing glories of your naamam. In this vast knowledge and tedious process of attaining you, i may be lost, suffer and find it difficult to continue. Ohh Swaamy I surrender to you, help me help me.

Dvaya Mantram: Sriman Narayana Charanau Prapadye Srimate Narayana Namaha. If you listen to Suprabhatham this is familiar to you. What a beautiful way to start the day  by committing and reiterating that i surrendered to you.

Charma Sloka: Saranagathi mantram offered by Lord Sri Krishna to Arjuna in Geetha.

Sarva Dharmaan Parityajya Mamekam Sharanam Vraja|

Aham tva sarva papebhyo moksha ishyami ma shuchaha||

O Arjun, you relinquish all dharmas and surrender unto me. I shall deliver you from all the sins. Grieve not!

The process of sarangati varies by tradition, but the concepts are similar. In Sri Vaishnava tradition, for example, saranagati consists of six steps:

• Anukulyasya sankalpa – Accepting thoughts favorable for devotion
• Pratikulyasya varjanam – Rejecting thoughts that are not favorable for devotion
• Raksisyatiti visvasa – Adopting an unshakable faith in God as protector and guide
• Goptrtve varanam – Seeking refuge in God
• Atma-niksepa – Surrendering to God's mercy and in service to God
• Karpanya – Expressing helplessness and a humble attitude

There are many ways to surrender to Vishnu. In the ritualistic way after your graduation in all scriptures and rituals, the enlightened gurus will advise you to seek saranagathi and you start your process from that day by enjoying family life or sanyasam as you wish and in totally surrendered state Maha Vishnu.

Realizing God and Bhakthi is up to you. This happens many ways, your curiosity, karma or Vishnu wishes. As your sadhana progresses slowly you will start understanding Vishnu more and more. Your attachment and appreciation for him increases beyond your imagination. Slowly you will start enlightened what all these maya is about. Vishnu being your dasa is one of the best experiences. It seems silly and untrue that Vishnu is your slave. That is how he plays with you. You need to experience it to understand. In this process slowly you are surrendering to Vishnu. The ultimate surrender comes when he reveals himself to you in physical form as Vishnu or Krishna as you wish.

Surrender during distress. Helpless Draupathi completely surrendered to Krishna at the time of disrobing. In Gajendra Moksham when the elephant completely surrenders to Vishnu, he came. The devotion is so razor focus the lord himself will save you and prathyaksha darisanam.

Whatever is your path of surrender, it all leads to ultimate goal of reaching Vishnu.

श्रेयश्च प्रेयश्च मनुष्यमेतः

तौ सम्परीत्य विविनक्ति धीरः।

śreyaśca preyaśca manuṣyametaḥ

tau samparītya vivinakti dhīraḥ |

(Kathopanisad 1:2:2) A human being has to retain his will, has to retain his power of choice, he has to exercise his will power and choice and choose the right goal and the right path.

आत्मानं रथितं विद्धि शरीरं रथमेव तु।

बुद्धिं तु सारथिं विद्धि मनः प्रग्रहमेव च॥

ātmānaṁ rathitaṁ viddhi śarīraṁ rathameva tu |

buddhiṁ tu sārathiṁ viddhi manaḥ pragrahameva ca ||

(Katha Upanisad 1:3:3) Your intellect is your driver; the driver has to choose the goal and the route. Bhagavan will not choose that for you.

विज्ञानसारथिर्यस्तु मनः प्रग्रहवान्नरः।

सोऽध्वनः पारमाप्नोति तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम्‌॥ ९॥

vijñānasārathiryastu manaḥ pragrahavānnaraḥ |

so'dhvanaḥ pāramāpnoti tadviṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padam || 

(Katha Upanisad 1:3:9) That intelligent human being who takes charge of his life and with the support of the Lord who leads a life chosen by himself, he will reach the destination that he wants to.

बुद्धिं तु सारथिं विद्धि मनः प्रग्रहमेव च॥

एष सर्वेषु भूतेषु गूढोऽऽत्मा न प्रकाशते।

दृश्यते त्वग्र्यया बुद्ध्या सूक्श्मया सूक्श्मदर्शिभिः॥ १२॥

buddhiṁ tu sārathiṁ viddhi manaḥ pragrahameva ca ||

eṣa sarveṣu bhūteṣu gūḍho''tmā na prakāśate |

dṛśyate tvagryayā buddhyā sūkśmayā sūkśmadarśibhiḥ ||

(Kathopanisad 1:3:12) Your śaraṇāgati is to the scriptures and you have to learn from the scriptures the methods of protecting yourself. Learning requires buddhi sakti. So preserve buddhi. Learn the scriptures and learn the methods of protecting yourself from all the problems.