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Chapter 7
Synonyms of Saranagati (Surrender)
'Asraya', 'Avalambana', 'Adhinata, 'Prapatti' and 'Sahara', are synonyms of the term 'surrender' (refuge), yet they have different meanings.
1. Asraya:—We cannot live, without the support of earth. In the same way, we cannot live, without the support of God. This is called 'Asraya'.
2. Avalambana:—If a man's arm is broken, it is dressed and slung from the neck, with a band. Thus the arm, is supported with a sling, while hanging from the neck. In like manner, a helpless person seeks refuge in God. This support is called 'Avalambana'.
3. Adhinata:—It is of two kinds: (a) Someone may force us to depend upon him. (b) We ourselves may willingly, depend on some other. Similarly, a devotee with exclusive devotion and without any selfish motive, becomes an attendant upon God, by regarding Him, as his master. This service with exclusive devotion, is called 'Adhinata.
4. Prapatti:—When a devotee, like a helpless person, offers obeisance before a great man, prostrates before God, it is called 'Prapatti'.
5. Sahara:—When a devotee, in order to be liberated, from the cycle of birth and death, takes refuge in God, like a drowning man who catches at a straw, it is called 'Sahara.
A devotee, is said to take refuge in God, when he is attached only to God and depends only on Him i.e., when he fixes his mind and intellect only, on God. When a man himself takes refuge in God, with his mind and intellect, he possesses all the virtues, of a surrendered devotee.
When a striver resolves, that his so-called mind and intellect, are God's, his mind is naturally attached to Him, and he depends only on Him i.e., he becomes 'Mayyasaktamanah' and 'Madasrayah'. In fact, all the worldly things are in the process of decay every moment, and we being eternal, have no real affinity with them. So, if we renounce this assumed affinity, and only aim at salvation, we shall take refuge in Him automatically, because we are God's, despite ever having developed disinclination for Him, due to our inclination, for the world. As soon as, this assumed affinity or inclination are renounced, our affinity or inclination for God, will manifest itself, and that is axiomatic.
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