Capt Purushottam Sharma (Retd)
Self surrender is an austerity and one of the nine steps of ‘Navada Bhakti’, that is, one of the essentials of divinity. It is to sacrifice, to give in, to submit to, to renounce, to dedicate. It is complete only when the sense of ‘I-Ness’ and ‘Mine-Ness’ is overcome. Surrender assures unflinching faith in God. It facilitates turning inwards and heart contact with Him.
So long as the attachment towards worldly objects operates, the illusion keeps haunting, the devotion remains at distance and the Reality keeps obscure. Therefore, the aspirant needs to endeavour to free himself from the clutches of earthly possessions and worldly enjoyments thus make himself the instrument in the hands of God,the master who directs each and every activity. He is the Witness, the Knower, the Indweller and source of Eternal happiness. He grants His grace and refuge which is the fruit of self-surrender. With due piety and adoration, we entreat in our daily prayer –
“Maat Pita Tum Mere Sharan Gahun Main Kis Ki
Tum Bin Aur Na Doooja Aas Karun Main Jis Ki”
‘You are my Mother and Father both, O Lord’ Except You, I have none else my own to trust upon for refuge’.
We are familiar with the devotees like Hanuman, Lakshmana, Bharata, Sita, Radha, Meera, Narada, Bhawishana, Pandavas and many other saints and sages, who with their profound self-surrender, attained one-ness with the Lord.
Nothing worthwhile can be achieved without self-surrender. God Realization is the supreme achievement. All divine attributes like truthfullness, compassion, contentment, love, honesty etc are the sweet fruit of self-surrender. No service can be rendered without surrender, No action can be performed without surrender. In fact our every activity demands surrender. Goswami Tulsidas Ji says in Ramcharitmanas “Naath Saka-Sadhan Main Heena, Keenhi Kripa Jaani Jan Deena”, (Lord ‘I am ignorant of all the disciplines of Divinity. Treating me a poor helpless being, You showered your loving kindness (by endowing Devotion), Devotree who surrenders all his actions and Himself to God without caring for rewards, realizes Him. In self-surrender to the omnipotent lies all the freedom to which we call Liberation and for which we all long for. We find that the self-surrender plays vital role in His Creation. The oceans surrender their waters to clouds to rain. The mighty sun surrenders his brightness and energy. The earth, the mountains, trees, rivers, animals and everything in the creation surrender whatever they have. In fact all being and objects in Lord’s domain surrender to one another their possessions for their existence. harmony, order, understanding and mutual benefits. It is the Divine Rule to surrender, God gets disappointed and unhappy if we break His set rules and procedures and cause disorder and confusion. Surrender for one another for mutual existence and benefit makes the Lord happy.
Swami Gaibanand Ji Maharaj has beautifully narrated the glory of self-surrender in his following verses in Anandaullas :
“Bhagwan To Bhajta Hua Bhagwan Hi Main Ban Gaya
Bhagwan Mujh Mein Mil Gaya Bhagwan Mein Main San Gaya
Abhiman Hi Agyan Tha Vah Baraf Dhela Gal Gaya
Us Sindhu Sachidanand Mein Main Ek Ho Kar Ral Gaya”
‘ By incessant chanting the name of Bhagwan, I myself became Bhagwan. He merged in me and I too lost my identity. It was the sense of egotism that had veiled the Truth. Now that the Wisdom has prevailed, the pride has melted like an ice-flake. I immersed in one-ness in that Ocean of Sachidananda (Truth, Consciousness, Bliss).
Lord Krishna commanded Arjuna saying –
“Sarv Dharman Parityajya Mamekam Sharnam Vraja
Aham Tva Sarva Papebhyo Moksaisyami Ma Sucah”
(Srimand Bhagvadgita
66/18)
‘Residing all your duties to Me the all powerful and all supporting Lord, come to me alone for refuge. I shall absolve thee from all sins, be not grieved”.
Supplication, prostration, bowing, folding hands, touching the feet, salutation, kneeling down in reverence, all represent surrender. It is the spirit of surrender that works behind love, compassion, dispassion, contentment and humility. We say our prayers with the following words :
‘Tan Man Dhan Sab Kuchh Hai Tera
Tera Tujh Ko Arpan Kaya Laage Mera”
– ‘Lord’: my body, mind and possessions belong to you and I offer (surrender) these to you. I have nothing my own.’
This reveals the state of a sincere aspirant wherein the pride of ownership and doership is lost. He now treats himself an instrument in the hands of the Lord and His will works in him, His thoughts, actions and deeds are inspired by Divine play.
The most celebrated saint Paltoo Saheb beseeches in these verses
“Sahib Mor Kuchh Ek Na Hin, Jo Hai Sab Kuchh Tor Hai Ji
Mujh Ko Is Baat Ki Na Hi Khabar, Aage Para Mujhe Bhor Hai Ji
Is Mamta Hamta Ke Karan, Tum Se Bhaye Hum Chor Hain Ji
Paltoo Mujh Ko Chet Para, Tera Nahin Kahe Man Mor Hai Ji”
‘Paltoo Saheb says, O Lord’ Nothing belongs to me. All that exists belongs to you I had mistaken it as mine due to the veil of ignorance. Because of the unholy inclinations of pride and attachment, I cannot face you. I am your culprit. Now that you have blessed me with wisdom, I realize the fickleness of the mind that had been misleading me the other way round.’
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