Bhakti and Prapatti Upayam

yama niyama aasanangaL iyal aavi pulanadakkam

tamathu aRiyum dhAraNaikaL tArai aRA ninaivu ozhukkam

samam udaya samAdhi nalam sAthippArkku ilakku aahum

amarar thozhum Atthigiri ambhyutthAL AaramudhE … 7

Meaning:

The Lord severs all the bonds of Samsaram for those who practice bhakti-yogam in its totality along with its eight angams. The eight angams of bhakti-yogam are mentioned as follows:

(1) Yamam (ahimsa, Sathyam, non-stealing, control of Kaamam et al.)

(2) Niyamam (Parisuddhi, Satisfaction with what one has, the performance of

vratham/tapas, efforts at Vedantha Paricchayam, Saathvika Thyagam)

(3) Aasanam (Yogic postures like Padhmasanam)

(4) Pranayamam (Control of Breath)

(5) PrathyAhAram (Control of senses & Turning them away

from the worldly sukhams and temptations)

(6) Dharanai (Imprint of Bhagavān's Tirumeni in one's mind)

(7) Dhyanam (uninterrupted meditation of the Lord)

(8) Samadhi (reaching a state of anubhavam through dhyAnam,

wherein the performer feels that he is seeing the Lord directly).

One can attain moksham by opting for either bhakti-yoga or by performing sharanagati at the feet of an Āchārya.