Ramanuja
रामानुज
The 11th-12th century acharya who founded Vishishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism).
Biography
Ramanujacharya (c. 1017-1137 CE) was a philosopher and theologian who founded the Vishishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism) school of Vedanta. He wrote commentaries on the Brahma Sutras (Sri Bhashya), the Bhagavad Gita (Gita Bhashya), and the Vedanta. He was the foremost acharya of the Sri Vaishnava tradition, emphasizing bhakti and prapatti (surrender) as the path to liberation. He opened temple worship to all castes.
Family Relationships
Major Events
Disagreement with Yadava Prakasha
His early guru taught Advaita; Ramanuja's interpretations diverged, leading to a split.
Sri Bhashya
Wrote the definitive Vishishtadvaita commentary on the Brahma Sutras.
Reform at Srirangam
Established the Sri Vaishnava tradition at the Srirangam temple.
Opening temples to all
Opened Vaishnava temples to lower castes, a radical reform for his time.
Exile and return
Fled the Chola king who persecuted him; lived in Melkote (Karnataka) before returning.
Important Dialogues
“The soul is not identical with Brahman, nor separate from Brahman. It is an attribute (prakara) of Brahman — like the body is to the soul. The universe is the body of the Lord.”
Sri Bhashya
Ethical Dilemmas
Secret mantra
His guru gave him a secret mantra but told him not to share it, or he would go to hell.
Resolution
Ramanuja climbed a temple tower and shouted the mantra to everyone — saying he would gladly go to hell if it meant thousands could be liberated.
Related Verses
श्रीयः पतिं सुराणां श्रीमतं श्रीनिवासम्
śrīyaḥ patiṃ surāṇāṃ śrīmataṃ śrīnivāsam
Salutations to the Lord of Lakshmi, the abode of Sri, the supreme refuge of all souls.
Ramanuja (Sri Vaishnava prayer)Interpretations Across Traditions
Sri Vaishnavism
Ramanuja is the supreme acharya who correctly interpreted the Upanishads: God (Narayana) is the supreme reality; souls and matter are His body. Liberation is through bhakti and prapatti.
Advaita response
Ramanuja's Vishishtadvaita is a useful stepping stone but ultimately incomplete — the final truth is pure non-duality.