Ramanuja

Sri Ramanuja
Sriperumbudur
(birthplace)

Bhagavad Ramanuja (1017–1137) was a Vedic spiritual leader, philosopher, and mystic who is recognized as one of the most influential thinkers in Hinduism. (The word “Bhagavad” is an honorific.)

Ramanuja led a broad religious movement in southern India in the 11th century, substantially changing the course of Hindu religious practice. He taught that the fulfilled life is one of loving worship, service, meditation, and surrender, leading to direct experience of the Supreme Self. The supreme end of existence is godly service that overflows from this experience.

The Supreme Self is the highest Truth, the worshipful source and substratum of all that exists, a unifying Reality which is unfathomably profound and great. It is the absolutely pure seat of all knowledge and bliss, opposed to any limitation or evil of any kind and the abode of all auspiciousness. The natural qualities of the Supreme Self inspire loving devotion in the spiritual aspirant, to which He responds out of His own inherent love and grace.

The means to attain the Supreme is intense, devoted love, beginning and ending in absolute self-surrender. The practice of this discipline involves daily worship, prayer, and meditation on God’s form and qualities. This spiritual discipline is known as bhakti, and it forms the essence of Ramanuja’s philosophy.

Works

• Vedarthasangraha - Summary of the Meaning of the Vedas
• Sribhashya - The Glorious Commentary [on the Brahma-Sutras]
• Vedanta Sara - Essence of Vedanta
• Vedanta Dipa - Light on Vedanta
• Gitabhashya - Commentary on the Bhagavad Gita
• Gadya Trayam - Prose poems of Surrender
  • Saranagati Gadya - The Large Poem of Surrender
  • Sriranga Gadya - The Smaller Poem of Surrender to Lord Ranganatha
  • Vaikuntha Gadya - The Poem of Contemplation on Vaikuntha
• Nitya - A Manual of Daily Worship

Other

• Image of Sri Ramanuja at Srirangam

Sri Ramanuja
Srirangam
(brindavanam)

Ramanuja Acharyas