[Advaita-l] Prapatti

[Jaldhar H. Vyas]

On Fri, 17 Feb 2012, Rajaram Venkataramani wrote:

> The simplest process to achieve krama mukti seems to be that of Sri
> Vaishnavas.

prapatti is not any kind of mukti at all.  Think about it.  Mukti means 
liberation.  If you are dependent on any other person even Ishvara, how 
can you consider yourself liberated?


> You admit that you dont have any qualifications whatsoever and
> perform saranagati. And on acceptance of this by an acharya in the
> line, you are assured of being transported to Vaikuntha at the end of
> life. That simple. Is there an equivalent in advaita tradition to go to
> Vaikuntha, Sivaloka etc.? I was told that upanayanam or nama sankirtanam is
> enough but also here that it is not and one has to perform rigorous
> sadhana. What is the tradition's view on this?

The smarta view is that everyone has "qualifications" (adhikara) of 
somewhat.  That Shruti talks about agnihotra etc. is because these are 
archetypes for karma not literally the only karmas themselves.  Surrender 
to the Lord only means one should leave the consequences of ones karma in 
His hands.  It is not an excuse for laziness.

-- 
Jaldhar H. Vyas <jaldhar at braincells.com>