The Pancharatra school is a branch of Vaishnavism that primarily revolves around the worship of Bhagavan Vishnu and emphasizes elaborate rituals and ceremonies. The Ahirbudhnya Samhita is considered a significant text within this school of thought, providing guidance on spiritual practices and the ultimate goal of life.
Atmasamarpana, also known as hridyaga, is a crucial concept
in the Pancharatra tradition. According to the Ahirbudhnya Samhita, the
ultimate objective of life is the union of the individual soul (jivatman) with
the Supreme Soul (Paramatman) or God. This union can be achieved through two
primary means: Atma Samarpana and Yoga.
Atmasamarpana involves deep meditation on God, visualizing
Him in various divine forms or manifestations. In the context of the
Pancharatra tradition, practitioners may focus on specific aspects of God's
powers, such as the Sudarshana Chakra (the discus-weapon of Vishnu). During
this meditation, appropriate mantras are recited, and the devotee's
contemplation culminates in an act of total self-offering or self-abnegation.
The term "Atmasamarpana" itself implies surrendering one's self
entirely to the divine.
This process aligns with the broader idea of Bhakti Yoga,
emphasizing the path of devotion and surrender to God. The practitioner seeks
to transcend the ego and merge their individual consciousness with the
universal consciousness, symbolized by the divine form they meditate upon.
It's interesting to note that Atmasamarpana shares
similarities with the yogic practices outlined by Patanjali in his Yogasutras.
Both emphasize deep meditation, mantra chanting, and the goal of achieving
union with the divine. The key distinction lies in the specific focus of
meditation and the devotional aspect prominent in Atmasamarpana within the
Pancharatra tradition.
In summary, Atmasamarpana, as per the Ahirbudhnya Samhita
and the Pancharatra school of Vaishnava Agamas, is a profound practice that
involves dedicated meditation, mantra chanting, and the complete surrender of
the self to the divine, ultimately leading to the union of the individual soul
with the Supreme Soul.