Doctrine of Prapatti

Doctrine of Prapatti was advocated by Nimbarka. Prappati is considered as superior to Bhakti. The devotional attitudes that enter into the act Prapatti are as follows): a) decide to subordinate one`s will always to the Divine will. b) Avoiding all that is contrary to God`s will. c) Faith that God is the saviour of all. d) One should accept that God`s protective grace is always with one. e) One in a pitiable state due to realisation of the lack of all self-effort that is made for one`s salvation. f) Resigning oneself to God`s protection.

These attitudes are involved in Parama-bhakti. In this sense Prapatti and Parama-bhakti are identical. Parama-bhakti is the end product of a long and difficult course of discipline of the head and the heart. The brain and the social environment required for it is not available for all. Prapatti is as considered an independent path for others provided they can cultivate mental attitudes that are mentioned earlier. These attitudes are summarised as unshakable faith in God and grace.

The Prapatti doctrine says that a single moment of resignation with the above attitudes of mind is enough to attain Lord`s grace operative on the Jiva. It has an immediate and non laborious effort. Through this doctrine of Prapatti, Ramanuja made the grace of devotional doctrine available to lower castes who were not included in Vedic study.

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