Matri Sharanam

(Sri Aurobindo’s translation)

In our younger days we had heard of our saint poets and singers - Tulsidas, Sooradas, Meerabai - who often spoke of their own incapacities and infirmities on the way of salvation, mukti-, and sang of the saving power and Grace of their chosen godheads - Rama, Krishna, Shiva, etc, - and of their Gurus, and exhorted us to take refuge in those divinities. In Buddhism too, which lays down a hard discipline, the mantra for initiation was buddham sharanam gachchhcmi, dharmam sharanam gachchami, sangham sharanam gachchami - I take refuge in Buddha, I take refuge in Dharma, I take refuge in the sangha.

In a famous Sanskrit hymn Swami Shankaracharya chants:

Charity I have not learned, Yoga nor trance,
Mantra nor hymn nor Tantra have I known,
Worship nor dedication’s covenants:
My refuge thou, Bhavani, thou alone!

Virtue is not mine nor holy pilgrimage,
Salvation or world’s joy I have never won,
Devotion I have not, Mother, no vows I pledge:
My refuge thou, Bhavani, thou alone!
-Courtesy Sri Aurobindo’s Action