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Re: Bhakti-Yoga, according to A.S. Raghavan

From the Bhakti List Archives

Krishna Susarla • December 13, 1997 


hare kR^iShNa !

I just wanted to take the time to thank you all for the prompt and informative responses to my posting. Some of you especially took the time to write to me personally, and I very much appreciated this. I was especially interested to see that a number of us have some common interests :-) . 

I would like to continue this conversation, but for now I am going out of town and won't be back for a week. Mani and Krishna Kalale gave me some food for thought, and I especially would like to address their points. In the meantime however, I would also like to start a discussion on the next logical issue, and that is the subject of sharaNaagati/prapatti. One devotee implied that they were synonymous. Is this true? Can someone provide a definition for these terms, perhaps even quoting verses which help to clarify the nature of each? Are there examples of devotees in the shaastra-s who are considered to have been practitioners of sharaNaagati? 

yours,

-- HariKrishna Susarla
vaasudevaparaa vedaa vaasudevaparaa makhaaH |

vaasudevaparaa yogaa vaasudevaparaaH kriyaaH || Bhaa P 1.2.28 ||

vaasudevaparaM j~naanaM vaasudevaparaM tapaH |

vaasudevaparo dharmo vaasudevaparaa gatiH || Bhaa P 1.2.29 ||

In the revealed scriptures, the ultimate object of knowledge is Shrii Krishna, the Personality of Godhead. The purpose of performing sacrifice is to please Him. Yoga is for realizing Him. All fruitive activities are ultimately rewarded by Him only. He is supreme knowledge, and all severe austerities are performed to know Him. In the revealed scriptures, the ultimate object of knowledge is Shrii Krishna, the Personality of Godhead. The purpose of performing sacrifice is to please Him. Yoga is for realizing Him. All fruitive activities are ultimately rewarded by Him only. He is supreme knowledge, and all severe austerities are performed to know Him. Religion [dharma] is rendering loving service unto Him. He is the supreme goal of life. (bhaagavata puraaNa 1.2.28-29)