Ramanujacharya
1017-1137 CE
Ramanujacharya (रामानुजाचार्य) - the 11th-century philosopher-saint who founded Vishishtadvaita (Qualified Non-dualism) - reconciled personal devotion to God with the non-dual philosophy of the Upanishads.
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Ramanujacharya - The Teacher of Qualified Non-dualism
Ramanujacharya was an 11th-century philosopher and saint who founded the Vishishtadvaita (Qualified Non-dualism) school of Vedanta. He is one of the most important figures in the history of Indian philosophy, and his influence on the devotional traditions of South India is incalculable.
The Early Years
Ramanuja was born in 1017 CE in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. From his youth, he showed exceptional intelligence and a deep spiritual inclination. He studied under the Advaita teacher Yadava Prakasha, but he soon began to question his teacher’s interpretations.
The breaking point came when Yadava Prakasha taught that the Upanishadic statement “Tat tvam asi” means the individual self is identical with Brahman. Ramanuja argued that this interpretation contradicted the reality of devotion: if the devotee and God are identical, then worship, prayer, and love are meaningless.
The Vision of a Different Path
Ramanuja developed a theology that honored both the unity of existence and the reality of devotion. In his system, Vishnu (Narayana) is the supreme reality. The individual souls and the material world are real parts of God’s body - they are not separate from God, but they are also not identical with God.
This is Vishishtadvaita - “Non-duality of the Qualified.” The reality is one, but it has internal differentiation, just as a tree has branches, leaves, and fruits while remaining one tree.
The Three Secrets
Ramanuja taught that liberation comes through three means:
- Bhakti (devotion) - intense, sustained love for God
- Prapatti (surrender) - complete self-surrender to God
- Grace (prasada) - God’s free gift of salvation
He emphasized that liberation is not achieved by human effort alone. Ultimately, it is God’s grace that saves.
The Legacy
Ramanuja wrote nine works, including his commentaries on the Brahma Sutras (Sri Bhashya), the Bhagavad Gita, and the Upanishads. He established the Srivaishnava tradition, which continues to this day.
He lived to be 120 years old and is revered as one of the greatest teachers in Indian history.