Ramanuja
The life and teachings of Ramanuja, the Sri Vaishnava philosopher of Vishishtadvaita: his devotion to Vishnu, his openness to all castes, his works and his legacy.
Ramanuja (also called Ramanujacharya) was a south Indian philosopher and religious leader, and one of the most important figures in the history of Vaishnavism. He developed the philosophy of Vishishtadvaita, or qualified non-dualism, which holds that God is a personal being, Vishnu, and that souls and the world are real, forming God's body. He gave a firm philosophical basis to the path of devotion and is remembered for opening spiritual teaching to people of all backgrounds.
Life according to tradition
Tradition dates Ramanuja's life from 1017 to 1137, a span of 120 years. Many historians place him somewhat later, but agree that he lived in the 11th and 12th centuries. He was born at Sriperumbudur, near present-day Chennai.
Student and seeker
As a young man, Ramanuja studied in Kanchipuram under the teacher Yadava Prakasha, who followed a form of non-dualism. Ramanuja repeatedly disagreed with his teacher's interpretations of the Upanishads, and the two parted ways. He was drawn to the Sri Vaishnava teacher Yamuna of Srirangam, but tradition holds that Yamuna died just before they could meet. Ramanuja vowed to fulfil Yamuna's unfinished wishes, including writing a commentary on the Brahma Sutras.
Leader at Srirangam
Ramanuja took the vows of a renunciant and became leader of the Sri Vaishnava community at the great temple of Srirangam. He reorganised the temple's worship and administration, and established a network of teachers to spread the tradition.
The secret mantra
A famous story tells that Ramanuja travelled many times to the teacher Tirukkottiyur Nambi to learn a sacred mantra, and was finally taught it on condition that he keep it secret. Ramanuja immediately climbed the temple tower and proclaimed it to the crowd below. When his teacher warned that he would go to hell for disobeying, Ramanuja replied that he would gladly do so if so many people could be saved. Moved, his teacher embraced him.
Exile and return
According to tradition, persecution by a Chola king who favoured Shaivism forced Ramanuja to leave Srirangam for about twelve years. He took refuge in the Hoysala kingdom of Karnataka, where he founded a temple at Melkote, before returning to Srirangam, where he died.
Works
Ramanuja's major works include the Sri Bhashya, his commentary on the Brahma Sutras; the Vedartha Sangraha, a summary of his interpretation of the Upanishads; a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita; and three prose hymns of devotion and surrender, the Gadya Traya.
Teachings
- God, Vishnu-Narayana, possesses infinite good qualities and is accompanied by the goddess Lakshmi.
- Souls and the material world are real, and are related to God as body to soul.
- The world is not an illusion. Ramanuja wrote powerful criticisms of the Advaita doctrine of maya.
- Liberation comes through loving devotion (bhakti) and surrender (prapatti) to God, and consists of eternal, joyful service to God, not dissolution into him.
Legacy
Ramanuja's Sri Vaishnava tradition remains strong in south India, centred on temples such as Srirangam, Tirumala and Melkote. He is remembered for welcoming devotees of every caste into the tradition and for integrating the Tamil hymns of the Alvars into temple worship. In 2017 his thousandth birth anniversary was celebrated across India, and in 2022 a 216-foot statue of Ramanuja, the “Statue of Equality”, was inaugurated near Hyderabad.
Sources and further reading
- John Carman, The Theology of Ramanuja (Yale University Press, 1974).
- Julius Lipner, The Face of Truth (Macmillan, 1986).