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Recently while exploring the topic of Devotion or Bhakti , I came across the info. that there are six aspects of surrender to the Lord , mentioned in Pancharatra texts.
So my question is - What are these six aspects of surrender mentioned in the Pancharatra texts? I want the brief description of each and preferably with direct quotes from original texts.
Prapatti (or self-surrender) is an important aspect of SrI Vaishnava Teachings. According to pAncarAtra samhitas (Ahirbudhnya samhitA, LakshmI tantra), there are six aspects or angas to prapatti:
आनुकुलस्य संकल्प: प्रतिकूल्यस्य वर्जनम् |
रक्षीष्यतीति विश्वासो गोप्त्रुत्ववरणं तथा || LakshmI Tantra 17.60||
आत्मनिक्षेप कार्पण्ये षड्विधा शरणागति:AnukUlyasya samkalpah prAtikUlyasya varjanam |
rakshishyatIti viSvAso goptRtva varaNam tathA ||
AtmA nikshepa kArpaNye shadvidhA SaraNagatih
And here is English Translation of LakshmI Tantra stating 6 components of surrender.
nyAsam: It is the supreme conviction that all efforts by the self, i.e., the individual, directed towards attaining SrIman nArAyaNa, the goal of liberation, are ultimately in vain and will not bear fruits. It is truly supreme and complete, when realising this, the individual willingly and completely surrenders their duty/ownership of protecting themselves directly to SrIman nArAyaNa's care and the benefits of any and all actions to DivyaThampathiyAr (i.e., Divine Couple). This is considered the primary limb of prapatti, all the other aspects or angas are in some sense an assistance to this mode of realised being. The obstacle to nyAsam is phalepsA or attraction to mundane benefits (e.g. siddhis) which should thus be overcome.
kArpaNyam: This refers to feeling of absolute humility. It is driven by the realisation drawn from an honest awareness of our pathetic acquisition of karma over and over again lifetime after lifetime. The feeling of kArpaNya is expressed expertly by the Azhwars in the Divya Prabhandams. Thus, reciting (and even listening) to the Divya Prabhandams leads to burning the vanity that one may have accumulated because of ego arising from pride of lineage, learning, wealth and such things. The enemy of kArpaNya is the feeling that one is free, independent, and competent to do whatever he likes (sva-svAtantryAvabodha). Thus, kArpaNya or absolute humility is nutured and amplified by contemplating on the fact that without the aid of Perumaal, whatever we undertake on our own is bound to fail.
mahA viSvAsam: viSvAsa is the firm conviction that God will never fail to protect us. Thus, literally, it means "Great Faith" in God as the unitary, compassionate protector and source of perfection of all beings. Thus, mahA viSvAsam is capable of eradicating all sins.
goptRtvam: The deliberate choice of bhagavAn SrIman nArAyaNa as the sole Protector. Even when it is granted that anyway He is the sole protector, lakshmI-tantra points out that what is involved in this anga is the conscious and mindful selection of Him, the acknowledgment that we need protection, and that He and only He can protect us.
prAtikUlya varjanam: The realisation that all beings whether Devas or small animals are like oneself. Thus, it involves giving up those actions that are antagonistic to oneself, Creation and God.
AnukUlya sankalpam: The resolve to do good by all beings. The realization that all beings are in actuality the body of God (shariAtma bhAvam), and the resolve to live in accordance with the will of SrIman nArAyaNa.
Source: pAncarAtra Agamam (A brief overview) by SrI narasimhan kRshNamAcAri
