Sharanam – One who grants refuge
The Supreme Lord is the shelter that removes distress of they who approach Him. The AmaraKosa says that He is the refuge and also the home for those who surrender to Him.
Saranam vadha rakshitror grha rakshaNayaropi (Amarakosa)
Saranam means protection as well as home.
Mayy eva mana Aadhatsva, Mayi buddhim nivesaya
nivasishyasi mayy eva, ata Urdhvam na samshayah (BG 12.8)
Just fix your mind upon Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and engage all your intelligence in Me. Thus you will live in Me always, without a doubt.
In the Tharangam Sharanam Bhava Karuna Mayi Kuru Dheena Dayalo – composed by Sri Narayana Theertha, Bhudhevi (Mother Earth) sings the praise of Lord Vishnu and prays to him to incarnate in the world to save it from the atrocities of evil demons.
sharanam bhava karuna mayi kuru dheena dayalo karunaa rasa varunaalaya kari raja krupaalo
adhunaa khalu vidhinaa mayi sudhiyaa surabharitham madhusudhana madhusudhana hara maamaka duritham (Sharanam Bhava Karuna Mayi Kuru Dheena Dayalo)
Oh Madhusudhana, I seek your shelter. You are benevolent to the destitute. You are the ocean of kindness and showered mercy on the Elephant King Gajendra, who was in deep distress. The atrocities of the demons have become intolerable. Madhusudhana, the Slayer of Madhu, absolve me from the troubles.
Aartaanaam Aartiharanaat Sharanam – He is called Sharanam because He puts an end to the miseries of those who resort to him says Adi Sankaracharya.
Sakrud eva Prapannaya Tavaasmeeti ca yaacate
Abhayam sarva bhootebhyo dadaamy etad vratam ma ma (Ramayana Yuddha kanda 18.33)
He who seeks refuge in me just once, telling me that ‘I am yours’, I shall give him assurance of safety against all types of beings. This is my solemn pledge
The Lord always grants the wish of all His devotees who surrender unto Him completely. We see this in the examples of Draupadi who called out to Krishna to protect her honor by throwing up both her hands and the Lord immediately took care. Prahlada, the young devotee had surrendered to the Lord and He appeared as Lord Narasimha to protect His devotee.
na yasya deva rishayah padam vidur jantuh punah ko ‘rhati gantum iritum
yatha natasyakritibhir vicheshtato duratyayanukramanah sa mavatu (Gajendra Moksha 6)
The spectators in a drama do not understand the identity of an actor because of his make up and diverse actions on the stage. So too, the Gods and the Sages do not comprehend Him, The Lord, who is disguised in His own Yoga Maya. How then an ordinary person, much less an animal like me, can understand or describe anything about His inscrutable ways? May that Lord, whom none knows, in truth and in reality, protect me!
Gajendra an elephant prayed to Lord Krishna to protect him when he was caught by the crocodile. He fought the battle all by himself for thousands of years and finally surrendered to the Lord by composing this Gajendra Mokshan shloka, where he glorified the Lord, surrendered to Him and sought His protection. Gajendra was in his previous birth King Indradhyumna and the crocodile was a Gandharva King called Huhu. Both were in their present forms owing to curses.
The Lord protects and offers refuge to the one who surrendes to Him completely.
Lets chant the Holy Name of the only refuge giver and simply throw up our hands and surrender to His will and seek to be directed and guided by Him at all stages in this life.
Nama 87 – VishnuSahasranama
