Friday, April 24, 2015

718. Srimad Ramanujacharya’s doctrine of Vishishtadvaita Vedanta.

http://www.speakingtree.in/spiritual-blogs/seekers/mysticism/srimad-ramanujacharyas-doctrine-of-vishishtadvaita-vedanta



Today (24-04-2015) happens to be the birth star of Srimad Ramanuja who is considered one among the Acharya Trio in Indian Philosophy, let us know about the doctrine he proclaimed in which gave importance to Bhakti along with Knowledge.  


Srimad Ramanujacharya was born in 1017 in Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu. He lived for 120 Years and preached Vishistadvaita (Qualified Non Dualism) philosophy. Though he did not differ much from Sri Sri Sankaras’ Advaita philosophy (Non Dualism), he wanted to clarify certain things. In the opinion of Srimad Ramanuja, God is not only eternal, ‘His’ nature contains elements of plurality i.e. ‘He’ is empowered with manifestation.

Srimad Ramanuja rejects the doctrine that the materialistic world is illusory and unreal. According to Srimad Ramanuja, the materialistic world is not unreal unless it is viewed as distinct from Brahman. The materialistic world is not simply a realm of false and illusory appearances. He says the materialistic world can never be overlooked by illusion. If Maya (Illusion) itself were to subdue the Brahman, then illusion would be greater than Brahman. His version of this materialistic world is the Drama (Leela), which happens at His instructions. 

Srimad Ramanuja also differs from Sri Sri Sankara on equating Jivatmas and Paramatma. Jivatmas can never be equated to Paramatma; though he is a particle of it, his position is to serve the Brahman. As the hand is a part of the body and also a servant of the body. 


Srimad Ramanuja preferred Saguna Upasana worship in Gross Form (Idol worship). He agreed to Sri Sri Sankara about the Jnana (Knowledge) being important for Mukthi (Salvations), but felt Jnana (Knowledge) and Bhakti (Devotion) are both necessary. Like the knowledge of the name of pill for a headache alone cannot relive the pain one should take the pill.

Srimad Ramanuja never distinguished between Nirguna and Saguna aspects of Brahman. According to his theory, Brahman is personal with qualities like Sarvavyapta (Omnipresent), Sarvgana (Omniscient), and Sarvashaktha (Omnipotent). When Vedic text describes God as Nirguna it means that God is untouched by the qualities like high and low. Being Saguna ‘He’ stands perfect without changes in accordance with space and time.

Since Brahman is accepted as Omnipresent, Omnipotent, and Omniscient, the Srimad Ramanuja declares that ‘He’ is the only one with Satyattva (Embodiment of Truth), Jnanattva (Embodiment of Knowledge) and Anantattva (Embodiment of Infinity). Moreover, Srimad Ramanuja speaks in his Vedanta sutra that the Lord is Imminent, Transcendent, and Unchanging.

Srimad Ramanuja emphasized on Prapathi through Bhakti i.e. Surrender through Devotion for Liberation (Mukti) in his Vishishtadvaita Vedanta.

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