SARANAGATI

Nammalvar practised it at the feet of Thiruvengadamudayan, the Lord of the Tirupati Hills, in one Tiru-vai-mozhi (6-10). He is often referred to as 'Prapannasantana-kutastha' - the foremost in the line of Prapannas, those that resort to Prapatti. Our Acaryas have also practised it both for their own redemption and that of their disciples and their kinsmen. They have popularised it by their works. Sri Vedanta Desika has written several works on this subject. It is he that has given a systematic and scientific treatment to the Doctrine of Saranagati and established its validity as a means for Moksa quoting the scriptures. The Gadya-traya, the three delectable prose-poems of Sri Ramanuja are a fine elucidation of this doctrine and its practice. Out of the three Gadyas, Saranagati-Gadya is like a manual of applied Saranagati and is very popular among Srivaishnaas. This work is of special interest to us as it has a reference to an important incident in the life of Sri Ramanuja on a Panguni Uttaram day. We shall therefore take up Saranagati-gadya for a detailed treatment.

The full-moon day in the month of Panguni when the moon is in conjunction with the Uttara-naksatra is called the Panguni Uttaram day. It is a day of great significance and festivals are celebrated in all temples. There takes place a grand festival at Srirangam, which is unique for several reasons. Lord Ranganatha goes to the shrine of Sriranga Nacciyar where He is received and taken to a special mandapam set apart for that day's festival. Ranganatha and Ranganayaki occupy the same couch and remain side by side throughout the day and night. This occurs only once in a year and that is on the Panguni Uttaram day.Devotees throng in great numbers to worship the Divya-Dampatis (Divine Couple) and become blessed.