There is a reference in the Upanishads to Prajapati’s instruction to his son Sauparneya Aruni wherein the supremacy of sanyasa or renunciation, over all other sadanas and austerities such as truthfulness, tapas, controlling the senses and the mind, giving gifts, living life righteously, paying off the three fold debts, performing yagnas, agnihotra, inward worship or mental concentration, etc, is emphasised. Valmiki has elaborated on the true nature and spirit of renunciation which runs as an undercurrent in the Ramayana and acharyas such as Periya Tirumalai Nambi, Ramanuja, Vedanta Desika and others have enriched it with their insightful expositions on what has come to be known as the Saranagati Sastra, pointed out Sri V. Karunakarachariar in a discourse.
Basically, the concept of saranagati involves one in search of refuge from another who is capable of granting this help. It can take many forms as for instance when a wrong act against another is regretted and one invokes pardon, or when one seeks some worldly goals. But its value rests in the Lord’s promise of protection and redemption to one who surrenders at His feet.
The jivatma, who is imperfect in innumerable ways and is helplessly caught in the cycle of birth owing to past karmas, becomes the greatest beneficiary when he avails of this promise of liberation. For his part, he merely has to be frank about his own limitations, especially his inability to protect himself on his own. His self surrender implies that he relinquishes his possessiveness over his entire self and entrusts it in the Lord’s hands with utmost faith; and henceforth he promises to himself that his main duty is to lead his life according to the Lord’s wishes and never even dream of going against what the Lord considers as unworthy of human conduct. Staunch belief in the Lord’s word can thus free one from all kinds of fears and anxiety.
