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FW: saranagati (etymology)

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Ramkumar T.G. • August 22, 2002 


SrI:

Forwarding message from a private respondent to my question.

[ But 'SaraNa' probably means 'protection'.
  Thus 'SaraNa + aagati' perhaps means 
  'to approach the Lord for protection'.
  adiyen, Ramkumar
]


> The word sarana refers to feet and gata is to rech.
> Saragati thus refers to the action of bowing down to
> the feet, here of the Lord.
> Sanskrit is unique in combining root words.
> Sarana+agatha (arriving at one;s feet) from the Lord's
> point of view is also Saranagati, surrendering.
> 
> =====
> Krishna Praba 

[ I think Sri Krishna Praba is confusing 'SaraNa' with
  'caraNa'. The latter means feet or foot. The former 
   means (a) house (b) protector (c) means to achieve
   a goal.  There is no doubt that Bhagavaan is the
   protector, but in the context of SaraNAgati the Agama
   shastras and our acharyas have always taken the third
   meaning, viz., that one approaches (Agati) the Lord
   with the idea that He is the sole Means or Way (SaraNa).
   Technically this is denoted as approaching the Lord
   as the 'upAya'.  Please refer to the rahasya granthas
   of our principal acharyas for more detailed explanations
   of this.  -- Moderator ]


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