Page 94 - Hinduism

chooses as self surrender is not of the nature of a cause. Whatever it is, prapatti is for all irrespective of caste, creed, sex or profession and is therefore universal. The chief mantra for prapatti is dvaya which means refuge at the feet of Lord and Śrī. The classic example of prapatti is that of Nammālvār, the super-prapanna of Śrī Vaiṣṇavism who surrendered himself to the mercy of Śrinivasa with Śrī as His heart, and was blessed with mukti. All sects in India are, as it were, pilgrims to the Divine dayā in the holy Hill of Tirumalai. The Hill is sacred to the followers of Madhva who insist on service to Viṣṇu as the chief means and end of religion.
The Śaivite defines Śiva, his supreme God, as Love and refers to four ways, cariya, kriya, yoga and jñāna as means to the attainment of Śiva. They correspond to the four yogas of Vedānta. Even the followers of Śankara accept the existence of a Personal God for all practical purposes and the need for His grace. Thus all Hindus have faith in Brahman as personal God and seek with the aid of a guru His mercy to attain mokṣa or sayujya which is outlined in the next chapter.
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