Prapatti

(“throwing oneself down”) Prapatti
refers to a devotee’s (bhakta) complete
surrender to God’s power as the only
means of salvation. This attitude is
particularly stressed among the
Shrivaishnavas, a southern Indian
religious community who are followers
of the god Vishnu and whose founder
was the great philosopher Ramanuja
(11th c.). Although ultimate power is
believed to be vested in God’s grace by
the practitioners of prapatti, believers
nevertheless possess a concern for
continuing religious practice. Thus,
prapatti is not meant to replace conventional religious activities such as worship. These activities are still performed,
but with the consciousness that God’s
grace will be sufficient. They are therefore not seen as a means toward salvation, but as reflections of the grace one
has already obtained.