Bhakti Yoga is referred to as Ashtanga Yoga (eight parts), whereas prapatti (complete surrender) is known as Shadanga Yoga (six parts), described as Saranaagathi. This practice comprises six parts. Sri Desika Srinivasa Thathachariar in a discourse said Swami Vedanta Desika elaborates on the greatness of Saranaagathi and its inner divisions in the 26 and 27 verses of the Saranaagathi Deepika, explaining that Saranaagathi is the complete offering or surrender of oneself to the Supreme Lord.Anyone, regardless of their capacity to follow other paths, is eligible to perform Saranaagathi to achieve desired results. He emphasises that this path is open to all, including animals, birds and humans, as demonstrated by the Lord granting salvation to figures such as Jatayu (bird), cows (animal), cowherds, Nambaduvan, Brahmarakshasa and dadhibandan (curd pot), among others. Unlike Bhakthi Yoga, which is complicated and demands strict adherence to other methods, Saranaagathi is described as an easily practised, glorious method that requires no such prerequisites, other than deep and unshaken faith (Mahaa Viswaasam).The six parts of this practice are explained as: Aanukoolya Sankalpam (the resolve to be favourable to the Lord); Praathikoolya Varjanam (the avoidance of actions displeasing to the Lord); Rakshishyathi iti visvaasaha: (absolute faith that the Lord will protect); Gopthruthva Varanam (appealing to the Lord as the sole protector); Kaarpanyam (the humility of admitting one’s utter helplessness); and finally, the sixth, which is offering one’s soul, the responsibility of its protection, and the resulting fruits to the divine feet of the Lord. Nammazhvaar established —“He is the benefactor who grants Vaikunta upon death to all those who reach His feet as their refuge”— that Saranaagathi is a profound spiritual discipline, wherein faith is the practitioner’s true wealth (Sraddha dhanam), and when performed with the correct resolve, it is guaranteed to bear fruit through the grace of the Supreme Lord. Published - July 10, 2026 05:10 am IST