Ramanuja, or Ramanujacharya (1077–1157 CE), was an Indian theologian and philosopher, and one of the most important exponents of the Sri Vaishnavism tradition within Hinduism. This article examines his philosophical foundations, his Vishishtadvaita doctrine, his path of devotional salvation, and his contributions to the Bhakti movement and social reform — an important topic for UPSC History Optional aspirants.
Overview and Influences
- Ramanuja’s philosophical foundations for devotionalism were highly influential to the Bhakti movement.
- Ramanuja’s guru was Yadava Prakasa, a scholar associated with the more ancient Advaita Vedanta monastic tradition.
- The Sri Vaishnava tradition holds that Ramanuja disagreed with his guru and with the non-dualistic Advaita Vedanta, instead following in the footsteps of the Tamil Alvars tradition and the scholars Nathamuni and Yamunacharya.
Vishishtadvaita Philosophy
- Ramanuja’s Vishishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism) philosophy competed with the Dvaita (theistic dualism) philosophy of Madhvacharya and the Advaita (non-dualism) philosophy of Adi Shankara, together forming the three most influential Vedantic philosophies of the 2nd millennium.
- Vishishtadvaita can be understood as Advaita with qualification, i.e., a form of qualified monism:
- Soul and matter are two qualities, or attributes, of Brahma.
- The world is not separate from God, but is formed out of Him.
- Though a monist, Ramanuja did not accept that God could be exempt from form and qualities.
- The individual soul, created by God out of His own essence, returns to its maker and lives with Him forever, yet remains always distinct — one with God, and yet separate.
- His conception of Brahma is thus Sagun Brahma (Brahma with attributes); this represented a modified form of Advaita.
Bhakti-Marga and the Path to Moksha
- Ramanuja advocated bhakti-marga — the path of devotion — for salvation, i.e., Moksha.
- Prapti represents a highly intense form of Bhakti; Moksha is possible through prapti, which in turn results in the grace of God.
- Moksha is thus the soul becoming one with Brahma, achievable through the grace of God, obtained through prapti.
- In this way, Ramanuja redefined Vedanta philosophy, placing stress on devotional worship to a personal God.
Works
- The Sri Vaishnava tradition attributes nine Sanskrit texts to Ramanuja, of which two are especially important:
- the Sri Bhashya — a review and commentary on the Brahma Sutras; and
- the Bhagavad Gita Bhashya — a review and commentary on the Bhagavad Gita.
Social Reform and Legacy
- Ramanuja established a careful balance between orthodox Brahmanism and popular bhakti, which he kept open to all.
- He did not support the idea that the “lower” castes should have access to the Vedas, but he advocated bhakti as a mode of worship accessible to all, including the Sudras and even the outcastes.
- While propagating bhakti, Ramanuja did not observe caste distinctions and even tried to eradicate untouchability.
Conclusion
Ramanuja’s Vishishtadvaita philosophy carved out a distinctive middle path between the strict non-dualism of Shankara’s Advaita and the theistic dualism of Madhvacharya’s Dvaita, while his emphasis on bhakti-marga as a universally accessible path to salvation gave the Bhakti movement much of its philosophical and social force. By combining rigorous Vedantic scholarship with an inclusive approach to caste and devotion, Ramanuja left a legacy that shaped both Sri Vaishnavism and the broader trajectory of devotional Hinduism, making him an essential figure for UPSC History Optional preparation.
