Ramanujacharya is considered to be the chief proponent of the Vishishtadvaita (one of the classical interpretations of the dominant Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy) school of Vedanta and a great social reformer. As he said, "If I can bring deliverance to so many, I do not mind being condemned to hell". He has tried to spread his spiritual message to even the lowliest of classes of people.
The Yatiraja Math and the Cheluvanarayanaswami temple at Melkote in Karnataka were established by him. This theologian, philosopher and scriptural exegete have also restituted many ancient temples. According to the Sri Vaishnavism, he is the third and most important teacher of their tradition while the Hindus view him as the leading expounder of Vishishtadvaita who wrote many philosophical works and prophesied the oneness of mankind. Ramanuja`s philosophy is referred to as Vishishtadvaita because it combines Advaita (oneness of God, which is the profecy of Adi Shankara) with Vishesha (attributes, which is the added one by Ramanuja).
 Ramanuja was born at Ilaya Perumal to Kesava Perumal Somayaji Dikhsitar and Kanthimathi Ammal in a Hindu family at Sriperumpudur. Sage Vasishta on seeing the brilliance in the face of the child named him as Lakshmana saying "Lakshmano Lakshmi Sampannaha". According to the traditional biographies, Ramanuja was born on 1017 and live his life till 1137; a lifespan of 120 years, which is quite unusual. Several scholars has accepted the latest chronology which says that Ramanuja had a tentative lifetime of 1077-1157.
He was married at a very early age of sixteen to Rakshambal or Tanjamma. After his father passed away, the family moved to Kancipuram. Here he took initiation from Yadavaprakasha, an accomplished Advaitic scholar of the form of the Vedanta philosophy that has a strong attraction to Shankara`s Absolute Idealistic Monism.
Ramanuja travelled to Srirangam after renouncing the life of a house-holder, to meet an aging Yamunacharya.. As Yamunacharya had died prior to Ramanuja`s arrival, followers of Ramanuja associate the legend that Yamunacharya died with three fingers curled. The meaning revealed to Ramanuja, Yamunacharya was concerned about three tasks. Ramanuja consecrated to complete these-
As the means to moksha, teach the doctrine of Saranagati (surrender) to God.
For the Brahma Sutras of Vyasa, write a Visishtadvaita Bhashya which had previously been taught orally to the disciples of the Visishtadvaita philosophy.
That the names of Parasara, the author of Vishnu Purana, and saint Sathakopa should be carried on.
Ramanuja accepted Yamunacharya as his `Manasika Acharya` and after some time took the membership of the srivaishnava school of thought. With the fright from the Chola rulers, Ramanuja and a few of his followers moved to the Hoysala kingdom of Jain king Bittideva and queen Shantala Devi in karnataka. After curing the daughter of the King, he took the name `vishnuvardhana` meaning "one who grows the cult of vishnu".
Swami Ramanuja incorporated teachings from 5 different people who he considered to be his acharyas
1. Peria Nambigal who performed his samasrayana
2. Thirukkotiyur Nambigal : who revealed the meaning of Charama slokam to swami on his 18th trip
3. Thirumalai Nambigal : Ramayana
4. Tirumalai Aandaan : Bhagavad Vishayam
5. Thirukachchi Nambigal : The 6 sentences or PErarulAlan
`Vishishtadvaita` philosophy follower Ramanuja picks out only seven fundamental flaws from the Advaita philosophy in order to revise them. These are: 1. the nature of Avidya, 2. The incomprehensibility of Avidya, 3. The grounds of knowledge of Avidya, 4. The locus of Avidya, 5. Avidya`s obscuration of the nature of Brahman, 6. The removal of Avidya by Brahma-vidya and finally 7. The removal of Avidya. He unwaveringly believed in the dogmas of Varnashrama Dharma even though Bhagavad Ramanuja instructed his followers to highly respect all Sri Vaishnavas irrespective of caste.
Ramanuja may have written 9 books. They are also referred to as the nine precious gems , the " Navarathnas ".
Vedartha Sangraha` (a resume of Vedanta). It sets out Ramanuja`s philosophy
`Sri Bhasya` or Brahma Sutra Bhasya - a commentary on the Brahma Sutras.
`Vedanta Saara` (essence of Vedanta) an appendix to Sri Bhasya.
Vedanta Deepa` (the light of Vedanta), another appendix/commentary to Sri Bhasya.
`Gita Bhashya` ( his Commentary for the Bhagavad Gita)
`Gadhya Thrayam` (three prose hymns) - Vaikunta gadyam describing in great detail vaikuntha, the realm of vishnu.
Sriranga Gadyam`, a prayer of surrender to the feet of Ranganatha
Saranagati Gadhyam, an imagined dialogue between Ramanuja and Shri Lakshmi and Narayana.
Nithya Grantham-- the day to day activities to be performed by all Sri Vaishnavas.
Inside the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple Ramanuja`s `thiruvarasu` (sacred burial shrine), namely Ramanuja shrine (sannidhi) is located. Ramanuja`s accomplishments are visible to this day and `Srivaishnavism` would thereafter be known as " Ramanuja Darsanam"- ` the light of Ramanuja`.
|
