Ramanuja (c. 1077–1157 CE), also known as Ramanujacharya, was a Hindu philosopher, theologian, and social reformer who was a key figure in the Sri Vaishnavism tradition within Hinduism. His philosophical underpinnings for devotionalism influenced the Bhakti movement. His Vishishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism) philosophy competed with Madhvchrya's Dvaita (theistic dualism) philosophy and di Shankara's Advaita (non-dualism) philosophy, the three most influential Vedantic philosophies of the second millennium. Ramanuja emphasized the epistemic and soteriological significance of bhakti, or devotion to a personal God (in Ramanuja's case, Vishnu), as a means of spiritual liberation. His theories assert a plurality and distinction between atman (soul) and Brahman (metaphysical, ultimate reality), while also affirming unity.

The Bhakti movement was influenced by his conceptual foundations for devotion. This article will explain the Ramanuja which will be helpful in Indian Art and Culture preparation for the UPSC Civil service exam.

Ramanuja

• Ramanuja, who was born in Sriperumbudur, near modern-day Chennai, preached Vishishta Advaita Vada in the 12th century.
• He believes that God is Saguna Brahman and that the creative process, encompassing all of creation's things, is genuine and not illusory, as Shankaracharya believed.
• As a result, Ramanuja believes that God, soul, and matter are all real. The inner substance, on the other hand, is God, and the rest are his qualities.
• As in dualism, the universe and Brahman are considered two equally real entities in Vishishta Advaita Vada, but the universe is generated out of Brahman rather than being separate from it.
• The Brahman is regarded as a personal god with omniscience who created the universe from himself.
• As a result, the world bears the relation of the portion to the whole or the relation of a 'qualified consequence' to the base to Brahman.
• Brahman is the sea, and the objects of the world, both living and nonliving, are the waves upon this sea, according to the famous analogy.
• Brahman, according to Ramanuja, is a completely personal god who is thought to be Vishnu or one of his avatars. Vishnu, he believed, created the universe out of his love for people, and he also ruled over it at every turn.
• He also believed that Vishnu possesses all of the characteristics of a personal god, such as omniscience and omnipotence.
• The difference between Dualism and Vishishta Advaita is that "mankind has a greater rank and is closer to God than in pure dualistic worship."
• Both the universe and Brahman are equally existent in Vishishta Advaita, they have not considered two independent realities as they are in Dualism.
• Ramanuja was a proponent of prabattimarga or self-surrender to God. He preached Bhakti redemption and welcomed underprivileged people to Vaishnavism.
• Sribhashya, Vedanta Dipa, Gita Bhasya, and Vedantasara are some of his works.

Ramanuja

Vishishta Advaita Vada

• Vishishtadvaita is one of the most popular schools of Hindu philosophy from the Vedanta school.
• Vedanta is the Sanskrit word for "end of the Vedas." VishishtAdvaita is a non-dualistic Vedanta school of thought.
• It is a non-dualism of the qualified whole, in which Brahman is recognized as the Supreme Reality alone, yet it is distinguished by plurality.
• Qualified monism, qualified nondualism, or attributive monism are all terms that might be used to define it.
• It is a Vedanta philosophical school that claims that all variation is subsumed by an underlying unity.
• Vishishtadvaita is based on three main ideas.
  • Tattva: Jiva (living souls; sentient), ajiva (nonsentient), and Ishvara are the three true beings that are known as tattva (Vishnu-Narayana or Parahbrahman, Supreme-self and the cause of all manifestations and in-dwelling giver of grace based on Karma).
  • Hita: The ways of attaining realization, such as bhakti (devotion) and prapatti (practice) (self-surrender).
  • Vivishta: the most exclusive (apart from the rest)
  • Purushartha: The desired outcome, such as moksha (freedom from enslavement).

Literary works of Ramanuja

• Sri Ramanujacharya authored nine scriptures known as the Navrathnas.
• Vedartha-Sangraha - The concepts of Visishtadvaita, a reconciliation of various competing sruthis, are presented in this text.
• Sri Bhashya - A comprehensive commentary on the Vedanta Sutras.
• Sri Bhashyam, the greatest commentary on the Brahma Sutras, is Sri Ramanuja's magnum opus.
• This magnificent contribution was one of three desires granted by Sri Ramanujacharya for His respected mentor and Guru Sri Yamunacharya, who died before seeing Sri Ramanuja in person.
• Gita-Bhasya - An in-depth analysis of the Bhagavad-Gita.
• Vedanta-Dipa - A synopsis of the Vedanta Sutras.
• Vedanta-Sara - A concise commentary on the Vedanta Sutras intended for novices.
• Saranagati-Gadyam - A prayer of complete surrender to Lord Srimannarayana's lotus feet.
• Sriranga-Gadyam - Self-surrender manuals to Lord Vishnu.
• Sri Vaikunta-Gadyam - Describes Sri Vaikuntha-Loka and the freed souls' status.
• Nitya-Grantha - A brief guidebook designed to guide devotees through day-to-day prayer and activities.

Contributions of Ramanuja

• His ultimate goal was to instill the Vedic way of life throughout society. He was a saint who spread the message of universal brotherhood.
• He accepted the untouchables and treated them as if they were special. Seeing his love for the afflicted, His ecstatic guru bestowed upon him the coveted title " Em-perum- anar," which means " you are ahead of us."
• Subjugated classes were given the term Thirukkulathar-Born Divine by Sri Ramanuja.
• The Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya is a brilliant system devised by Ramanujacharya as a permanent tie to unite the universe's diverse people through mutual respect and equality, uniting the entire world in one spiritual bond.
• Ramanujacharya's social philosophy was intended to transcend the caste system and include all of humanity.
• As a result, he has been hailed as a great religious and social genius, and the title "Bhagwad" has been appropriately bestowed upon him.
• From temple spires, he revealed the secret, important knowledge, and true substance of the Vedas to the average man.
• He created the proper processes for rites done in temples all over India, the most notable of which are Tirumala and Srirangam. He wrote many commentaries on our Vedic classics.

Statue of equality - Ramanuja, Telangana

Conclusion

Ramanuja was a famous philosopher-Saint, theologian, social reformer, and the foremost proponent of the Visishtadvaita School of Vedanta, or qualified non-dualism. During His lifetime, Bhagawad Ramanujacharya traveled to remote parts of the Indian subcontinent to teach that the social order is a moral order (law of conduct) and that the essence of all values is man's desire for betterment. The year 2017 celebrates the 1000th anniversary of Bhagawad Ramanujacharya's birth. A 216-foot-tall statue will be constructed and consecrated to recognize His contributions to society and India as a whole.