Samarpanam: Surrendering the Former Self

Samarpanam, or surrender, appears throughout bhakti practice as the ultimate offering—giving everything to the beloved with no expectation of return. Mirabai surrendered her queenly life, her reputation, and her family role to pursue her truth. This concept applies directly to releasing a past identity: rather than experiencing your former self as something stolen or abandoned, you consciously offer it back to time, to growth, to the universe. This transforms the narrative from loss to liberation. Samarpanam is not resignation but active love—you honor what that identity gave you while releasing your grip on it. This practice creates psychological space between who you were and who you're becoming, preventing resentment or desperate nostalgia. When grief arises, you return to the gesture of offering, anchoring yourself in intentional release.