SHARANAGATI SASTRAM and FREEMASONRY – A LINK - W Bro Sanjay Ranganathan
SHARANAGATI SASTRAM and FREEMASONRY – A LINK - Bro Sanjay Ranganathan
Sharanagati or Prapatti, Sanskrit meaning for “Surrender”, in the devotional school of the
Hindu denominations known as Vaishnavism, is the process of total surrender to God
(Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi). The process of such a surrender forms the basis of
devotion to Godhead in the Bhakti Traditions within the “Sampradaya”, propagated by Sri
Ramanujacharya, (1017-1137 CE), who also considered the surrender to Vishnu to be the
highest, if not the only, goal or aim in life.
Over many centuries, the process of such surrender has rendered this to be the ultimate
aim of every living creature. The Acharya says in his treatise of the Srimad Bhagavathm,
that such surrender will entail the living creature of reaching His abode and never to
return back to this mortal life. This process is called Moksha or Mukthi or total salvation
from all bondage.
The Third Degree in Craft masonry and the Holy Royal Arch Chapter, which is all about
death and resurrection and spiritual exaltation, has many such instances, which espouses
these tenets and this process as well.
The third degree Working Tools in the end portion says it all, “and when we are summoned
from this sublunary abode, we may ascend to the Grand Lodge above where the world’s
greatest architect lives and reigns forever and ever.”
The prayer by the Chaplain also extols this, “but that passing safely under the shadow of
Thy protection through the valley of shadow of death, he may finally rise from the tomb
of transgression to shine as stars forever and ever.”
The concept of Surrender is not just restricted to Hinduism or Vaishnavism in particular.
It has found place in many other religions as well.
From the Holy Bible:
Matthew6:9-13
After this manner therefore pray you: Our Father which are in heaven, Hallowed be your
name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our
daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil: For your is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
for ever. Amen.
From the Holy Koran Sharif:
In the Holy Koran, Surrender to God is expressed as Shahahad and is considered to be
the first of the Five Pillars of Islam, and the basic statement of the Islamic Faith is,
“There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger”.
Several Gurus teach their disciples the important of surrender to God or to themselves.
In the Sri Sai Satcharita, the biography of Shridi Sai Baba, Baba says that surrender to
the Guru is the only sadhana.
Prem Rawat, formerly called Guru Maharaj ji was quoted in 1978, “But there is nothing to
understand! And if there is something to understand, there is only one thing to
understand, and that is to surrender”.
The Buddha says, “In your deepest surrender, your soul light ignites”.
The Guru Granth Sahib says, “Jewad Aap Tewad Teri Daat”, which translated into
English means, Whole sale surrender by a devoted sikh attracts the wholesale Grace and
Blessing of the Satguru.
From the above, it is pretty lucid, that almost all religions and faiths espouse surrender as
the ultimate act of the human being.
The process of surrender is listed in Vaishnavism, and can be pointed out as such:
The form ritual of Sharanagati or Prapatti is a Vedic and puranic scriptural tradition
backed by a ritual called the Pancha Samskaram or the five impressions, which is also
known as Samashrayanam. This act is done by the Guru or Acharya, and established by Sri
Ramanujacharya, while convening the 74 mutts, and appointing the heads. The descendants
of the mutt, selects one who takes the chair of the Acharya, for the good of his disciples
and performs the ritual, as laid per laid down procedures.
Let us compare these five impressions with our teachings in Freemasonry.
As per the Sharanagati Sastram As per Freemasonry
The first of the impression is the term
“Daasa” or servant of the Lord, at the
initiation into the ritual
In the Operative masonry, the first seven
years which the Indentured Apprentice
spends in the Craft, to learn the rituals, is
supposed to work in his Masters House as
his servant. And the reward for his labour,
though material, is he being advanced to
being a Fellow of the Craft
The Thiruman or tikka on the forehead and
12 other parts of the body, which signifies,
The Obligation undertaken by the candidate
upon his entrance into the lodge will fit this
that they belong to Vishnu by the Guru,
called Pundra samskara
description.
Special branding on the shoulders with the
conch and chakra of Vishnu by the Guru,
called Thaapa samskara
This can be equated to the investing of the
Apron, and without which, he will not be
identifiable as a Freemason
Learning to do Archana or Puja or the
rituals for worship of Vishnu called the
Yagna samskara
This is very much akin to the rituals done in
our Lodges.
Learning the three special mantras to
propitiate Vishnu by the Guru, called as
Mantra Samskara
Signs, token and words, form the three,
that are communicated to the initiate, by
the WM
Let us briefly understand the significance or symbolism of each of the process or steps.
In essence, in Freemasonry, we can equate this Pancha samskara, to the Five points of
Fellowship, or Five perfect points of entrance. Though there are only three points of
entrance, of, at, and on, the whole of them are five, which are, Petitioning, Admission,
Interrogation, Obligation, and Entrustment.
The first of the samskara deals with one becoming a servant to the Lord, and taking the
name of daasa in addition to being called by our own name. If I am known as Sanjay
Ranganathan, I would henceforth be known as Sanjay Ranganatha daasa. Daasyatvam, or
being a servant of the Lord, and not being a slave to the Lord, is what helps one to attain
his divine grace. Likewise, in freemasonry, once initiated, he takes the prefix Brother, to
one and all, and in spite of reaching dizzying heights in Freemasonry, he is still referred to
as a brother amongst us.
The second samskara is the Pundra, which is the application of the sacred symbols on the
forehead and twelve other places in the body, through which the world knows that he is a
Sri Vaishnava, who has surrendered himself to the Lord. In Freemasonry, he is now known
by the symbols of the craft he displays, and as Wilmshurst says, “The inner forces of his
soul have begun to organize and manifest themselves in his thoughts, conduct and his
speech and his person. And this spiritual change in him is easily perceptible. How do you
know a Mason by the day? A question asked to EA and the cryptic answer is by seeing him
and observing the sign. But the sign observed is not the salute or any formal gesture, but
the perceptible radiance of new life from within. And who can observe it; only True
Masons, who display it in themselves can observe this in others.”
The Third is the Thaapa samskara, which is the application of the Conch and Chakra on the
shoulders of the initiate. The Acharya, during the process of Samashrayanam, proceed to
brand the shoulders of the initiate, heated emblems or insignias of Vishnu, the conch and
chakra. AS the emblems, burn into the skin, it leaves a mark of the same on the body,
never to be obliterated, unless destroyed by fire, when the flesh is burnt at journeys end.
This mark is a warning to the God of Death and his messengers that they are not to touch
this soul, as the soul belongs to Vishnu alone, and is fitted to the reception of his grace
and benevolence.
It is said that, while Krishna used to leave the palace gates of Dwarka to visit others, the
gatekeepers or dwarapalakas, used to ask him, as to what to do with visitors, when they
came to dwaraka, in his absence. His response, was “amudritaha vrashtavyaha, namudritaha
navrashtavyaha”, meaning, the guards were to check for this branding in the shoulders, and
if it being there, to allow them to enter freely, and those who did not have them, will have
to wait in the external room, checked with them their need to enter, and if found worthy,
then permitted to enter.
Is this not what we also do in our Lodges, when a visitor, who is not known to anyone,
arrives for a meeting, the Tyler and the Junior Warden, who are the keepers of the
Lodge, try to find out from the brother, as to who he is, and from where he is. Once that
is established, he is asked for documents to prove that he is a freemason, and then
proceed to ask him to provide proofs of him being a Freemason, through signs, token and
word.
The Tamil Saint, Perialwar, or Vishnuchittar (name means one who always has Vishnu in his
thoughts), sings in his Thiruppallandu,“தீயிற் ெபாᾢகின்ற ெசஞ்சுடராழி * திகழ்
திᾞச்சக்கரத்தின் * ேகாயிற் ெபாறியாேல ஒற்ᾠண்ᾌ நின்ᾠ * குᾊகுᾊ
ஆட்ெசய்கின்ேறாம், that we have stood being branded by the red hot conch and
chakra and as such we rule forever and ever as his servants.
The Fourth of the Samskara is the Yajna Samskara, or learning the rituals of performing
puja or archana in the worship of Vishnu. In Freemasonry, this is very much akin to
performing the rituals in any degree or order, as per the laid down procedures of the
order, by the respective Grand Lodge, without deviating from the said guidelines. Since,
this is an area which is very familiar to the Freemasons, I am not detailing much here.
The fifth is the Mantra Samskara, which is the imparting of the words by the Acharya to
the initiate, by whispering the Dwaya mantra and Charama shloka, to the ears of the
initiate. The reason is it should not be recited or said aloud, as this mantra in itself is
considered to be sacred. Something similar is what we are taught in freemasonry, that the
word in itself is never to be said aloud but only in a whisper except in open lodge and by
the command of WM. This is the name of the TTALGMH, because in ancient times, it was
not lawful for anyone save the High Priest ( here Acharya ) to pronounce those Names, it
is our custom to divide the Names into three syllables, each syllable to be spoken by a
different companion, and thus forms a token of recognition.
Ramanujacharya, the most considerate and compassionate human being born in this earth,
after receiving the word from his Guru, Tirukkoshttiyur Nambi, climbed the flagpole of
the temple and called every human being, and recited those words aloud, saying that
chanting this mantra, will lead all human souls from this bondage, and ascend to His
mansions. His Guru, pronounced a curse that though he shall be able to show directions to
all his disciples to reach the Lotus feet of the Lord, he himself would never attain the
same distinction. This example shows that we have to be particularly careful, while
communicating this word. Though he attained the abode of Vishnu, is another story.
Historians of the Hiramic legend believe that, Hiram Abif, had inadvertently uttered the
masters word while paying his obeisance to the Most High, and realized it a bit too late,
that his utterings were picked up by another. Historians believe that this carelessness on
his part, could have been the reason for his untimely demise, before the temple was
completed.
Sri Aalavandhar or Yamunacharya, who was the head of the Srirangam mutt of Sri
Vaishnavas, wrote in his Stotra Ratnam, the following shloka or paasuram ( this is the form
of address in Vaishnavism about shlokas), the aspects of Sharanagati or Surrender.
Na Dharma Nishthosmi Na Cha Atmavedi
Na BhaktimansTvat Charanaravinde |
Akinchanonanyagati Sharanyam
Tvat Padamoolam Sharanam Prapadye ||
O Lord, I do not know Dharma, I do not know Dnyana, I do not have Bhakti in your divine
Lotus Feet. All I have is I am Akinchan ( one who does not have anything), and Ananyagati (
one who is totally dependent only on You), and hence surrendering my soul at your Lotus
Feet.
In Sri Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna explains Sharanagati to Arjuna after explaining in detail
Karma, Dnyana, Bhakti Yogas. Sri Bhagavad Gita is the essence of all the Vedas,
Upanishads, and puranas.
Krishna further states in his rendition of the Gita, that,” catur-vidha bhajante mam,janah
sukrtino 'rjuna, arto jijnasur artharthi, jnani ca bharatarsabha”
The import of this is, O best among the Bharatas [Arjuna], four kinds of pious men render
devotional service unto Me—the distressed, the desirer of wealth, the inquisitive, and he
who is searching for knowledge of the Absolute.
And Krishna says, he is most interested in the one who is searching for knowledge of the
Absolute, as he is the wisest one.
This concept has been extolled in one of the papers by MW Bro Arun Chintopanth, OSM,
where he writes that there are four kinds of brethren who attends a Lodge meeting. The
first is the one who attends for rendering rituals, the second for fellowship and banquets,
the third who attends to ensure promotions for himself to higher offices, and the fourth
who attends to understand how to use the tenets and make himself a better man,
everyday. The Past Grand Master, further goes on to say, that he is interested only in the
Fourth brother, as only he has understood what the craft is all about, and one who has
surrendered to the Craft and its tenets, begets everything.
And the following Shloka is the essence of the entire Srimad Bhagavad Gita. This shloka
being the Sharanagathi mantram offered by Lord Krishna to Arjuna, it is regarded as one
of the three divine mantras of Srivaishnavas,. It is also called as the Charama Shloka.
Sarva Dharmaan Parityajya Mamekam Sharanam Vraja|
Aham tva sarva papebhyo moksha ishyami ma shuchaha||
O Arjuna, you relinquish all dharmas and surrender unto me. I shall deliver you from all the
sins. Grieve not!
In the Sri Vaishnava Tradition, Sharanagati is divided into six divisions. This is besides the
five extolled above, which is the basis for initiation. These six are post initiation, which is
to be imbibed by the one who has surrendered to Lord Vishnu.
We will once again use the Tabular Form to understand the meaning and its corresponding
link in Freemasonry.
Sharanagati divisions Post Initiation into Freemasonry
Sharangati
Anukulyasya Sankalpa – Accepting those
things that are favourable for devotion to
God
Freemansonry
To God, by never mentioning his name, but
with that awe and reverence which are due
from the creature to his creator, by
imploring His aid in all your lawful
undertakings, and by looking upto Him in
every emergency for comfort and support.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Sharanagati
Pratikulyasya varjanam – Rejecting those
things that are averse to surrender to God
Freemasonry
The penal sign alludes to the fall of Adam,
and the dreadful penalty entailed thereby
on his sinful posterity, no less than death.
It imitates the very act that the stiff
necked and disobedient shall be cut off
from the land of the living by the
judgement of God, even as the head is
severed from the body by the sword of
human justice.
=========================================
Sharanagati
Raksisyatiti visvasam – Considering God to
be ones protector in all circumstances.
Freemasonry
His all seeing eye observes us, and whilst we
continue to act in conformity with the
principles of the craft let us not fail to
discharge our duties to Him with fervency
and zeal.
Having defined for our instructions the
limits of good and evil, will reward or punish,
as we have obeyed or disregarded His divine
commands.
==========================================
Sharanagati
Goptrtve varanam – Accepting God as one’s
maintainer
Freemasonry
It so truly denotes the frame of heart and
mind, without which our prayers and
oblations of praise cannot find acceptance
at the Throne of Grace, before which, how
should a frail and erring creature of the
dust present himself but on bended knees
and with uplifted hands, at once, betokening
his humility and contrition.
===========================================
Sharanagati
Atma niksepa – Surrendering everything in
God’s service
Freemasonry
The M…….L sign reminds us of the weakness
of the human nature, unable of itself to
resist the powers of darkness, unless
assisted by that light from above. By this
defenseless posture, we acknowledge our
whole frailty, and confess that we can do no
manner of good or acceptable service but
through Him, from whom all good counsels
and just works do proceed, and without
whose Divine and special favour we must
ever have remained unprofitable servants in
His sight.
==============================================
Sharanagati
Karpanya – Cultivating a humble attitude
Freemasonry
To seek the solace of your own distress, by
extending relief and consolation to your
fellow creatures in the hour of their
affliction. Above all, it taught you to bend
with that humility and resignation to the will
of the GAOTU.
The fact that the obligation is always
undertaken while being in a kneeling down
position, shows the humility that is needed
in a candidate, to exhalt himself.
The manner of our holy ancestors, the
atoning priests, by this onward form of
faith and dependence, by the F.Sn , we show
that we would prostrate ourselves with our
faces to the dust. Thus we must throw
ourselves at the mercy of our Divine
Creator and Judge….
===================================================
To quote W L Wilmshurst, “To the spiritual guardians of primitive man, then, one must
attribute the communication of that universal science of rebuilding the fallen temple of
humanity, of which science we now surprisedly find traces in every race and religion of the
world. To this source we must credit the distribution, in every land and among every
people, of the same or equivalent symbols, practices and doctrines, modified only locally
and in accordance with the intelligence of particular peoples, yet all manifesting a common
root and purpose.”
In a nutshell, Sharanagathi has six elements which can be summed up as under:
1. acknowledging ones helplessness
2. determination not to err again
3. vowing to follow rules
4. unshakeable faith that the Lord is the sole refuge
5. seeking the lord as protector
References:
The Hindu newspaper dated january08-Sunday-2017(article: tiruppavai lead us to
sri vaikuntha) Special Issue on vaikunta ekadasi.
GLI Craft Ritual Book
SGCI Chapter Ritual Book
Freemasonry and its Symbolism – W L Wilmshurst
Treatise on Bhagavad Gita – Swami Chinmayananda
Publication of Srimad Andavan Ashram – Sharanagati Saaram
Other Internet Sources
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