Prapatti

Prapatti, from Sanskrit, denotes surrender or refuge to the divine. In Vaishnavism, particularly the Sri Vaishnava tradition, it refers to the act of surrendering one’s self completely to Vishnu or Narayana, seeking the Lord’s protection and grace as the means to liberation (moksha).

In the philosophy of Ramanuja and his followers, liberation is attained through divine grace rather than through effort alone. Prapatti is a formal, conscious act of faith in the Lord’s merciful protection, wherein the devotee relinquishes personal power and dependence on own merit. It is presented as a viable path for all souls, including those who feel spiritually weak or burdened by past actions, because ultimate deliverance rests with the Lord’s compassion.

Practically, prapatti is expressed through a surrenderful petition or prayer that places the devotee under the Lord’s refuge. It often involves acknowledging the Lord as the sole refuge, accepting His will, and relying on His grace for salvation. In Sri Vaishnava practice, it is frequently linked with the concept of saranagati—a complete and explicit pledge of surrender to Vishnu’s protection.

Significance: Prapatti is considered one of the primary means of attaining moksha within Ramanuja’s framework. It emphasizes divine grace as the decisive agent of liberation and provides a structured form of surrender that complements devotion (bhakti) and reverence toward the Lord. The concept continues to be echoed in later Vaishnava writers, such as Vedanta Deshika, and remains influential in Sri Vaishnava liturgy and thought.