라마누자
라마누자(Ramanuja)는 인도의 힌두 철학자, 구루, 사회 개혁자이다. 힌두교 내 스리 바이시나비즘(Sri Vaishnavism) 전통의 가장 중요한 주창자들 중 한 명으로 인식된다.[1][2][3] 경건주의에 대한 그의 철학적 토대는 바크티운동에 영향을 주었다.[2][4][5]
촐라의 타밀 브라만 공동체에서 태어났다. 촐라의 통치 시기 안정된 사회에서 타밀 문화 속에서 자랐다.[6]
각주[편집]
- ↑ Raman 2020, 195, 198–205쪽.
- ↑ 가 나 C. J. Bartley 2013, 1–4, 52–53, 79쪽.
- ↑ Jon Paul Sydnor (2012). 《Rāmānuja and Schleiermacher: Toward a Constructive Comparative Theology》. Casemate. 20–22 with footnote 32쪽. ISBN 978-0227680247.
- ↑ Doniger, Wendy (1999). 《Merriam-Webster's encyclopedia of world religions》. Merriam-Webster. 904쪽. ISBN 978-0-87779-044-0.
- ↑ Hermann Kulke; Dietmar Rothermund (2004). 《A History of India》. Routledge. 149쪽. ISBN 978-0-415-32920-0.
- ↑ Carman 1994, 80쪽.
외부 링크[편집]
라마누자
라 마누 자 ( 타밀어 : 1017-1137 ) , 인도 철학자 , 신학자 . 힌두교 철학 의 혁명적 존재이다.
개요 [ 편집 ]
12 세기 남부 인도의 마두라이 틸 틸라 파리의 슐리 랭엄 사원의 대주교를했다. 처음에 샹카라 의 어드바이터 베단타 철학(후지이치 원론)을 배우고 있었지만 만족하지 않고, 비시스타드 바이타 베단타 철학 (수정 후지일 원론)을 세웠다.
그 내용은 샹카라의 것과는 크게 다르며, 현상세계는 실재이며 신은 인격신이며, 해탈은 박티 ( 신애 )에 의해 달성된다는 것이다. 샹카라가 버라몬 을 위한 철학을 설한 반면, 라마누자는 당시 번성했던 박티(신애)를 도입해 서민을 위한 철학을 설했다. 라마누자라고 하면 열광적인 박티(신애)를 떠올리지만, 마츠모토 테루경에 의하면, 본래는 꽤 주지주의적인 것이었다고 한다.
그의 가르침은 나중에 고양이와 원숭이로 나뉘었다. 고양이파는 새끼 고양이가 위험해지면 부모 고양이가 새끼 고양이의 목을 감싸고 움직이는 반면, 원숭이는 작은 원숭이가 위험해지면 작은 원숭이가 친원에게 뛰어들어 이동한다. 즉 하나님께 모든 것을 맡기거나 개인의 노력도 필요할까 하는 것이다.
그에게는 몇 가지 저작이 있지만 '슈리바샤'가 대표작이다. 그의 후세에 미치는 영향은 크고 라마난다 , 카비르 , 구르 나낙으로까지 미치고 있다.
120세까지 살았다고 써 있지만 인도에 자주 있는 이야기로 의심스럽다.
참고 문헌 [ 편집 ]
- 마츠모토 테루경 「라마누자의 연구」 춘추사, 1991년. ISBN 978-4393111758
Ramanuja
Ramanuja | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal | |
| Born | April 25, 1077 |
| Died | c. 1157 (aged 79–80[a]) |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Parents |
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| Sect | Sri Vaishnavism |
| Philosophy | Vishishtadvaita |
| Religious career | |
| Guru | Yadava Prakasa |
Influenced by | |
Influenced | |
| Literary works | Traditionally 9 Sanskrit texts, including Vedarthasamgraha, Sri Bhashya, Gita Bhashya |
| Honors | Emberumānār, Udaiyavar, Yatirāja (king of sannyasis)[7] |
| Propagator | Vishishtadvaita Vedanta |
| Part of a series on | |
| Hindu philosophy | |
|---|---|
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| Orthodox | |
| Heterodox | |
Ramanuja ([ɽaːmaːnʊdʑɐ]; Middle Tamil: Rāmāṉujam; Classical Sanskrit: Rāmānuja c. 1077 – 1157), also known as Ramanujacharya, was an Indian Hindu philosopher, guru and a social reformer. He is noted to be one of the most important exponents of the Sri Vaishnavism tradition within Hinduism.[7][8][9] His philosophical foundations for devotionalism were influential to the Bhakti movement.[8][10][11]
Ramanuja's guru was Yādava Prakāśa, a scholar who according to tradition belonged to the Advaita Vedānta tradition,[12] but probably was a Bhedabheda scholar.[13] Sri Vaishnava tradition holds that Ramanuja disagreed with his guru and the non-dualistic Advaita Vedānta, and instead followed in the footsteps of Tamil Alvārs tradition, the scholars Nāthamuni and Yamunāchārya.[8] Ramanuja is famous as the chief proponent of Vishishtadvaita subschool of Vedānta,[14][15] and his disciples were likely authors of texts such as the Shatyayaniya Upanishad.[12] Ramanuja himself wrote influential texts, such as bhāsya on the Brahma Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita, all in Sanskrit.[16]
His Vishishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism) philosophy has competed with the Dvaita (theistic dualism) philosophy of Madhvāchārya, and Advaita (non-dualism) philosophy of Ādi Shankara, together the three most influential Vedantic philosophies of the 2nd millennium.[17][18] Ramanuja presented the epistemic and soteriological importance of bhakti, or the devotion to a personal God (Vishnu in Ramanuja's case) as a means to spiritual liberation. His theories assert that there exists a plurality and distinction between Ātman (soul) and Brahman (metaphysical, ultimate reality), while he also affirmed that there is unity of all souls and that the individual soul has the potential to realize identity with the Brahman.[18][19][20]
Early life[edit]
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| Vaishnavism |
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Ramanuja was born into a Tamil Brahmin community, in a village called Sriperumbudur (present-day Tamil Nadu) under the Chola Empire. His followers in the Vaishnava tradition wrote hagiographies, some of which were composed in centuries after his death, and which the tradition believes to be true.[9]
The traditional hagiographies of Ramanuja state he was born to mother Kānthimathi and father Asuri Keshava Somayāji,[21] in Sriperumbudur, near modern Chennai, Tamil Nādu.[5] He is believed to have been born in the month of Chithirai under the star Tiruvadhirai.[22] They place his life from 1017–1137 CE, yielding a lifespan of 120 years.[23] However, based on 11th- and 12th-century temple records and regional literature outside the Sri Vaishnava tradition, modern era scholars suggest that Ramanuja might have lived from 1077–1157 CE.[21][5][6]
Ramanuja married, moved to Kānchipuram, and studied with Yādava Prakāśa as his guru.[10][12][24] Ramanuja and his guru frequently disagreed in interpreting Vedic texts, particularly the Upanishads.[21][25] Ramanuja and Yādava Prakāśa separated, and thereafter Ramanuja continued his studies on his own.[9][24]
He attempted to meet another famed Vedanta scholar of 11th-century Yamunāchārya, but Sri Vaishnava tradition holds that the latter died before the meeting and they never met.[9] Ramanuja was the great-grandson of Yamunāchārya through a granddaughter.[26] However, some hagiographies assert that the corpse of Yamunāchārya miraculously rose and named Ramanuja as the new leader of Sri Vaishnava sect previously led by Yamunāchārya.[9] One hagiography states that after leaving Yādava Prakāśa, Ramanuja was initiated into Sri Vaishnavism by Periya Nambi, also called Mahapurna, another Vedānta scholar. Ramanuja renounced his married life, and became a Hindu monk.[27] However, states Katherine Young, the historical evidence on whether Ramanuja led a married life or he did renounce and became a monk is uncertain.[28]
Career[edit]
Ramanuja became a priest at the Varadharāja Perumal temple (Vishnu) at Kānchipuram, where he began to teach that moksha (liberation and release from samsara) is to be achieved not with metaphysical, nirguna Brahman but with the help of personal god and saguna Vishnu.[24][29] Ramanuja has long enjoyed foremost authority in the Sri Vaishnava tradition.[30]
Hagiographies[edit]
A number of traditional biographies of Ramanuja are known, some written in 12th century, but some written centuries later such as the 17th or 18th century, particularly after the split of the Śrīvaiṣṇava community into the Vadakalais and Teṉkalais, where each community created its own version of Ramanuja's hagiography.[28][31] The Muvāyirappaṭi Guruparamparāprabhāva by Brahmatantra Svatantra Jīyar represents the earliest Vadakalai biography, and reflects the Vadakalai view of the succession following Ramanuja. Ārāyirappaṭi Guruparamparāprabhāva, on the other hand, represents the Tenkalai biography. Other late biographies include the Yatirajavaibhavam by Andhrapurna.[28]
Historical background[edit]
Ramanuja grew up in the Tamil culture, in a stable society during the rule of the Chola dynasty.[32] This period was one of pluralistic beliefs, where Vaishnava, Shaiva, Smarta traditions, Buddhism and Jainism thrived together. In Hindu monastic tradition, Advaita Vedānta had been dominant,[12] and Ramanuja's guru Yādava Prākāsha belonged to this tradition.[24] Prior to Ramanuja, the Sri Vaishnava sampradaya was already an established organization under Yamunāchārya, and bhakti songs and devotional ideas already a part of Tamil culture because of the twelve Alvārs.[33] Ramanuja's fame grew because he was considered the first thinker in centuries that disputed Shankara's theories, and offered an alternative interpretation of Upanishadic scriptures.[32]
Early life[edit]
When Ramanuja and his guru Yadava Prakaasa parted ways due to their differences in interpreting the Vedic literature, Ramanuja became a devotee of the Varadaraja Perumal temple in Kanchi. During this period, Ramanuja's discourses and fame reached far and wide. Yamunacharya, the Vaishnavite acharya and the religious head of the Ranganathasamy temple at Srirangam had been closely following Ramanuja from a very young age. When it was time to pass on the legacy, the acharya decided that he would call upon Ramanuja. Accordingly, he summoned Sri Mahapurna, a disciple who was helping him out with the temple affairs and asked him to go to Kanchi and bring Ramanuja.[34]
When Mahapurna met Ramanuja and informed him of his guru's desire, Ramanuja was overjoyed and they both immediately left for Srirangam. But bad news awaited them at Srirangam and they both learned that Yamunacharya had died. Heart-broken, Ramanuja then left for Kanchi and refused to worship Sri Ranganatha for he held him responsible for taking away Yamunacharya from this world.[35] As for Mahapurna, he began to assist Tiruvaranga Araiyar, the son of Yamunacharya in managing the temple affairs. But as time passed by, Tiruvaranga Araiyar and other senior members of the Vaishnavite order felt that there was a vacuum after Yamunacharya's demise and that they lacked a person who could interpret the Vedas and Sastras like Yamunacharya. So it was finally decided that Sri Mahapurna should once again go and invite Ramanuja to Srirangam.[35]
Meanwhile, in Kanchi, Ramanuja met with Kanchipurna, a fellow devotee, regularly and soon decided that he would become Kanchipurna's disciple. When he approached Kanchipurna about this, Kanchipurna politely refused as he did not belong to the same caste as Ramanuja and told him that he would get a more appropriate guru.[35] After this Kanchipurna left for Tirupati to worship Lord Venkateswara and would return only after six months. When he finally came back, it was through him that Lord Varadaraja conveyed his wish to Ramanuja. Accordingly, Kanchipurna advised Ramanuja that it was the Lord's wish that he leave for Srirangam and find solace in Sri Mahapurna.[34][36]
[edit]
After it was decided that Mahapurna would go and invite Ramanuja to Srirangam, the acharya left for Kanchi with his wife. While on his way to Kanchi, Mahapurna and his wife decided to take some rest at Maduranthakam, a place that is located 40 km from present day Chennai. As fate would have it Ramanuja, who was on his way to Srirangam, arrived at the same place and to his joy found Mahapurna. They soon embraced each other and Ramanuja requested that he waste no time in initiating him into the Vaishnavite order. Mahapurna immediately obliged and Ramanuja received the Panchasamskaras (the five sacraments).[36]
Persecution[edit]
Some hagiographies, composed centuries after Ramanuja died, state that a Chola king, Kulothunga II,[37] had immense hatred towards Sri Vaishnavism. He was called Krimikanta Chola or worm-necked Chola, so called as the king is said to have suffered from the cancer of the neck or throat.[38][39] Historian Nilakanta Sastri identifies Krimikanta Chola with Adhirajendra Chola or Virarajendra Chola with whom the main line (Vijayalaya line) ended.[40][41] Knowing the evil intentions of the king, Sri Rāmānujā's disciple, Sri Koorathazhwan persuaded Ramanuja to leave the Chola kingdom. Sri Rāmānujā then moved to Hoysala kingdom for 14 years, wherein he converted a Jain king, Bitti Deva to Hinduism after miraculously healing his daughter. Bitti Deva changed his name to Vishnuvardhana. King Vishnuvardhana assisted Sri Rāmānujā to build a temple of Lord Thirunarayanaswamy at Melukote, which is now a temple town in Mandya district of Karnataka. Rāmānujā later returned on his own to Tamil Nādu after the demise of Krimikanta Chola.[37] According to Sastri, Krimikanta or Adhirajendra Chola was killed in a local uprising of the Vaishnavas.[41][42]
According to "Koil Olugu" (temple records) of the Srirangam temple, Kulottunga III was the son of Krimikanta Chola or Karikala Chola.[43] The former, unlike his father, is said to have been a repentant son who supported Vaishnavism.[44][45] Ramanuja is said to have made Kulottunga III as a disciple of his nephew, Dasarathi. The king then granted the management of the Ranganathaswamy temple to Dasarathi and his descendants as per the wish of Ramanuja.[46][47] Some historians hold that Krimikanta, who persecuted Ramanuja, had a personal animosity towards Ramanuja and did not persecute Vaishnavites.[48]
Reformation[edit]
The Sri Vaishnavite order prior to Ramanuja was not averse to people from other castes as both Kanchipurna and Mahapurna were non-Brahmins.[35] So when Ramanuja revolted against the discrimination that had crept within the caste system, he was simply following the same lines as the Alwars and helped the people who were considered to be untouchables (dasa, dasulu, dasu), to get absorbed into the Sri Vaishnava Bhakti Movement, encouraging them to attain Spiritual enlightenment by teaching them Sri Alwar Divyaprabandham. He called these downtrodden classes as Tirukulattar, meaning "of noble descent" in Tamil, and was instrumental in admitting them into the temple in Melukote.[49][50] Ramanuja's liberal views also led to the reorganization of rituals in Srirangam and the involvement of non-Brahmin people in the Vaishnava worship. This policy change contributed to the enhancement of social status for artisanal and other non-Brahmin caste groups, especially the weavers (SenguntharKaikola Mudaliyar) who were one of the chief beneficiaries. After the period of Ramanuja, the Sri Vaishnava community split on this issue and formed the Vadakalai (northern and Sanskritic) and Thenkalai (southern and Tamil) sects.[51] Both sects believe in initiation into Sri Vaishnavism through Pancha Samskara.[52] This ceremony or rite of passage is necessary for one to become a Sri Vaishnava Brahmin. It is performed by Brahmins and non-Brahmins in order to become Vaishnavas.[53]
Attempts on Ramanuja's life[edit]
There were multiple attempts on Ramanuja's life. When he was a student under Yadava Prakasa, the latter grew jealous of Ramanuja's rise to fame. So Yadava Prakasa tried to get rid of Ramanuja during a tour to the Ganges in northern India. Govinda, Ramanuja's cousin (son of his mother's sister),[26] learned of this plot and warned Ramanuja who then left the group and escaped to Kanchi with the help of an elderly hunter couple. Later Yadava Prakasa realised his folly and became a disciple under Ramanuja.[54][55]
Later another attempt was made on Ramanuja's life while he was about to take charge of the temple affairs in Srirangam. The head priest of the Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam did not like Ramanuja and decided to kill him. Accordingly, he invited Ramanuja to his house for having food and planned to kill him by poisoning his food. However, when Ramanuja arrived, the priest's wife saw the divine glow of Ramanuja and immediately confessed her husband's plan. This did not deter the priest who then made another attempt when Ramanuja visited the temple. He poisoned the temple Theertham(holy water) and served it to Ramanuja. However instead of dying Ramanuja began to dance with joy. The priest taken aback at once realised his mistake and fell at the feet of Ramanuja.[56]
Writings[edit]
The Sri Vaisnava tradition attributes nine Sanskrit texts to Ramanuja – Vedarthasamgraha (literally, "Summary of the Vedas's meaning"), Sri Bhashya (a review and commentary on the Brahma Sutras), Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (a review and commentary on the Bhagavad Gita), and the minor works titled Vedantadipa, Vedantasara, Gadya Trayam (which is a compilation of three texts called the Sharanagati Gadyam, Sriranga Gadyam, and the Vaikuntha Gadyam), and the Nitya Grantham.[57]
Some scholars have questioned the authenticity of the majority of his work except the three of the largest works credited to Ramanuja – Sri Bhashya, Vedarthasamgraha, and the Bhagavad Gita Bhashya.[58][59]
Philosophy[edit]
Ramanuja's philosophical foundation was qualified monism, and is called Vishishtadvaita in the Hindu tradition.[18][60] His ideas are one of three subschools in Vedānta, the other two are known as Ādi Shankara's Advaita (absolute monism) and Madhvāchārya's Dvaita (dualism).[18]
Rāmānuja’s Epistemology[edit]
Rāmānuja's epistemology is hyperrealistic or similar to naïve empiricism.[61] The first two sources of knowledge are perception and inference, and they are trustworthy notwithstanding general human subjection to "beginningless ignorance." Knowledge is always of the real, even in dreams, and error is a disordered perception or faulty inference concerning what is really there. The third source of knowledge is the testimony of scripture, or more strictly, śabda ("eternal sound"), which helps to establish much that is uncertain on the basis of sense perception and inference, notably the existence and nature of the ultimate reality (brahman). Though unlike some proponents of naïve empiricism, Rāmānuja does not think that it suffices to intermittently have an acquaintance with objects of knowledge. Knowledge (jñāna) only occurs when there is direct perception of an object. Unlike proper empiricists, Rāmānuja does not restrict knowledge to that which can be gathered from the senses.[62][63][64] Rāmānuja was unique in his view that bhakti or devotion is itself an epistemic state. He says that when bhakti takes firm root in an individual, it turns into parabhakti, which is the highest form of bhakti and that bhakti is the direct awareness of Brahman's nature and thus is a kind of knowledge (jñāna).[65][66]
Ramanuja’s Ontology[edit]
Being a realist, Rāmānuja firmly opposed the notion of māyā (illusion). In his understanding, three distinct realities exist: a vast expanse of material objects, countless conscious souls within material bodies, and the transcendent Brahman. Each of these categories possesses a different degree of awareness, from the non-aware material world to the fully-aware Brahman, but they are all equally real. In Rāmānuja's interpretation of advaita (non-dualism), it is not a form of advaita as proposed by Shankara. Rāmānuja's conception of bhakti maintains that there must always be a separation between the lover (the soul) and the beloved (Vishnu), for true love cannot exist without distinct identities. His stance suggests a qualified non-dualism, where both the souls and the material world, though deeply interconnected with Brahman, eternally remain different from Brahman.[67]
In Rāmānuja's philosophy, the foundational concept of the soul-body model revolves around the idea that the entire universe, including both souls (jivas) and matter (prakrti), serves as the body (sarira) of God, referred to as "sarira-sariri-bhava", where "sarira" means body and "sariri" means the indwelling soul or consciousness. This concept is rooted in sruti passages like Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 3.7.3-23:[68]
Rāmānuja’s Soteriology[edit]
According to Rāmānuja, the highest good lies in realizing our true nature and of understanding the true essence of Brahman. Moksha, or spiritual liberation, is seen as the joy of contemplating Brahman (rather than release from the life-death-rebirth cycle),[69] and that joy is the result of devotion, praise, worship and contemplation of divine perfection. Knowledge of Brahman consists in liberation, for Rāmānuja, mainly because of the character of Brahman.[70] He writes:
Rāmānuja clarifies that mere theoretical knowledge of Brahman‘s nature is insufficient for attaining moksha.[66] According to Rāmānuja, bhakti yoga, the discipline of devotion or worship, is the effective means for liberation.[71] In his interpretation, moksha is not a negative separation from transmigration, or a series of rebirths, but rather the joy of the contemplating the divine perfection. This joy is attained by a life of exclusive devotion (bhakti) to Brahman, singing his praise, performing adulatory acts in temple and private worship, and constantly dwelling on his perfections. In return, Brahman will offer his grace, which will assist the devotee in gaining release.[72][73][69]
Criticism of Sankara[edit]
Ramanuja argued that Shankara's interpretation of the Upanishads had serious errors.[74] He had four major objections:
- Brahman was differentiated consciousness and not undifferentiated consciousness.
- Shankara's concept of Nirguna Brahman was wrong and untenable.
- Beginningless karma, and not superimposition, was the cause of avidya.
- Sankara's doctrine of Avidya (Ignorance) and Maya (Illusion) has seven major flaws and inconsistencies.[75]
Hermeneutic Criticism[edit]
Vedas as Doctrinally Unified Corpus[edit]
Ramanuja accepted that the Vedas are a reliable source of knowledge, then critiqued other schools of Hindu philosophy, including Advaita Vedānta, as having failed in interpreting all of the Vedic texts.[76] He asserted, in his Sri Bhāshya, that purvapaksin (previous schools) selectively interpret those Upanishadic passages that support their monistic interpretation, and ignore those passages that support the pluralism interpretation.[76] There is no reason, stated Ramanuja, to prefer one part of a scripture and not other, the whole of the scripture must be considered on par.[76][77] One cannot, according to Ramanuja, attempt to give interpretations of isolated portions of any scripture. Rather, the scripture must be considered one integrated corpus, expressing a consistent doctrine.[76] The Vedic literature, asserted Ramanuja, mention both plurality and oneness, therefore the truth must incorporate pluralism and monism, or qualified monism.[76]
This method of scripture interpretation distinguishes Ramanuja from Ādi Shankara.[77] Shankara's exegetical approach Samanvayat Tatparya Linga with Anvaya-Vyatireka,[78] states that for proper understanding all texts must be examined in their entirety and then their intent established by six characteristics, which includes studying what is stated by the author to be his goal, what he repeats in his explanation, then what he states as his conclusion and whether it can be epistemically verified.[79][80] Not everything in any text, states Shankara, has equal weight and some ideas are the essence of any expert's textual testimony.[77] This philosophical difference in scriptural studies helped Shankara conclude that the Principal Upanishads primarily teach monism with teachings such as Tat tvam asi, while helping Ramanuja conclude that qualified monism is at the foundation of Hindu spirituality.[76][81][82]
Comparison with other Vedānta schools[edit]
Ramanuja's Vishishtadvaita shares the theistic devotionalism ideas with Madhvāchārya's Dvaita.[83] Both schools assert that Jīva (human souls) and Brahman (as Vishnu) are different, a difference that is never transcended.[67][84] God Vishnu alone is independent, all other gods and beings are dependent on Him, according to both Madhvāchārya and Ramanuja.[85] However, in contrast to Madhvāchārya's views, Ramanuja asserts "qualified non-dualism",[86] that souls share the same essential nature of Brahman,[86] and that there is a universal sameness in the quality and degree of bliss possible for human souls, and every soul can reach the bliss state of God Himself.[67][87] While the 13th- to 14th-century Madhavāchārya asserted both "qualitative and quantitative pluralism of souls", Ramanuja asserted "qualitative monism and quantitative pluralism of souls", states Sharma.[88]
Ramanuja's Vishishtadvaita school and Shankara's Advaita school are both nondualistic Vedānta schools,[24][89] both are premised on the assumption that all souls can hope for and achieve the state of blissful liberation; in contrast, Madhvāchārya believed that some souls are eternally doomed and damned.[90][91] Shankara's theory posits that only Brahman and causes are metaphysical unchanging reality, while the empirical world (Maya) and observed effects are changing, illusive and of relative existence.[29][60] Spiritual liberation to Shankara is the full comprehension and realization of oneness of one's unchanging Ātman (soul) as the same as Ātman in everyone else as well as being identical to the nirguna Brahman.[17][89][92] In contrast, Ramanuja's theory posits both Brahman and the world of matter are two different absolutes, both metaphysically real, neither should be called false or illusive, and saguna Brahman with attributes is also real.[60] God, like man, states Ramanuja, has both soul and body, and all of the world of matter is the glory of God's body.[24] The path to Brahman (Vishnu), asserted Ramanuja, is devotion to godliness and constant remembrance of the beauty and love of personal god (saguna Brahman, Vishnu).[24][29][60]
Influence[edit]
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Harold Coward describes Ramanuja as "the founding interpreter of Sri Vaisnavite scripture."[93] Wendy Doniger calls him "probably the single most influential thinker of devotional Hinduism".[10] J. A. B. van Buitenen states that Ramanuja was highly influential, by giving "bhakti an intellectual basis", and his efforts made bhakti the major force within different traditions of Hinduism.[24]
Modern scholars have compared the importance of Ramanuja in Hinduism to that of scholar Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) in Western Christianity.[95][96][97]
Ramanuja reformed the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple complex, undertook India-wide tours and expanded the reach of his organization.[30] The temple organization became the stronghold of his ideas and his disciples.[98] It is here that he wrote his influential Vishishtadvaita philosophy text, Sri Bhashyam.[99]
Ramanuja not only developed theories and published philosophical works, he organized a network of temples for Vishnu-Lakshmi worship.[10] Ramanuja set up centers of studies for his philosophy during the 11th and 12th centuries, by traveling through India in that era, and these influenced generations of poet saints devoted to the Bhakti movement.[10] Regional traditions assert that his visits, debates and discourses triggered conversion of Jains and Buddhists to Vaishnavism in Mysore and Deccan region.[10][60]
The birthplace of Ramanuja near Chennai hosts a temple and is an active Vishishtadvaita school. His doctrines inspire a lively intellectual tradition, and his religious practices continue in major Vaishnava centres like the Ranganātha temple in Srirangam and the Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati.[24]
The Statue of Equality in Hyderabad, planned by Chinna Jeeyar, is dedicated to Ramanuja.[100] It was inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 5 February 2022.[101]
Names[edit]
Ramanuja is also known as Śrī Rāmānujāchārya, Udaiyavar, Ethirājar (Yatirāja, king of monks), Bhashyakara (Bhashyakarulu in Telugu),[102] Godāgrajar, Thiruppavai Jeeyar, Emberumānār and Lakshmana Muni[1]
- 'Ilayazhwar' by Periya Thirumalai Nambi
- 'Boodha Puriser' by Sriperumbudur Adikesava Perumal
- 'Am Mudalvan Evan' by Yamunāchārya
- 'Ethirajar' and 'Ramanuja Muni' by Kanchi Perarulala Perumal
- 'Udayavar' by Srirangam Periya Perumal
- 'Emperumanar' by Tirukozhtiyur Nambi
- 'Tiruppavai Jeeyar' by Periya Nambi
- 'Lakshmana Muni' by Tiruvaranga Perumal Arayar
- 'Sadagopan Ponnadi' by Tirumalaiyandan
- 'Sri Bashyakarar' by Kalaimagal
- 'Desi Kendiran' by Tirupathi Thiruvenkatamudayan
- 'Koil Annan' by Srivilliputhur Kothai Nachiyar
See also[edit]
- Adi Shankara
- Hindu philosophy
- Subala Upanishad – a minor Upanishad repeatedly cited by Ramanuja, and influential to his ideas
- Yoga (philosophy)
- Vishnuvardhana
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Sri Ramanuja's gift to the Lord". The Hindu. India. 24 December 2012. Archived from the original on 19 April 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
- ^ N. Jagadeesan (1989). Collected Papers on Tamil Vaishnavism. Ennes Publications. p. 82.
his name 'Ramanuja' (the name of Lakshmana in the Ramayana) was done into Tamil as 'Ilaiyalvar.'
- ^ Gerhard Oberhammer; Marion Rastelli (2007). Studies in Hinduism: On the mutual influences and relationship of Viśiṣṭādvaita Vedānta and Pāñcarātra. IV. Austrian Academy of Sciences Press. p. 269. ISBN 978-3700136804.
Hence, says the AK, "On the twelfth day, during the naming ceremony which was preceded by giving him the divine signs, they gave him the name Ilaiyalvar
- ^ Sydnor, Jon Paul (2012). Ramanuja and Schleiermacher: Toward a Constructive Comparative Theology. p. 20. ISBN 9780227900352.
- ^ a b c Jones & Ryan 2006, p. 352.
- ^ a b Carman 1974, pp. 27–28, 45.
- ^ a b Raman 2020, pp. 195, 198–205.
- ^ a b c C. J. Bartley 2013, pp. 1–4, 52–53, 79.
- ^ a b c d e Jon Paul Sydnor (2012). Rāmānuja and Schleiermacher: Toward a Constructive Comparative Theology. Casemate. pp. 20–22 with footnote 32. ISBN 978-0227680247. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f Doniger, Wendy (1999). Merriam-Webster's encyclopedia of world religions. Merriam-Webster. p. 904. ISBN 978-0-87779-044-0.
- ^ Hermann Kulke; Dietmar Rothermund (2004). A History of India. Routledge. p. 149. ISBN 978-0-415-32920-0.
- ^ a b c d Patrick Olivelle (1992). The Samnyasa Upanisads : Hindu Scriptures on Asceticism and Renunciation: Hindu Scriptures on Asceticism and Renunciation. Oxford University Press. pp. 10–11, 17–18. ISBN 978-0-19-536137-7.
- ^ Nicholson 2010, p. 34.
- ^ C. J. Bartley 2013, pp. 1–2.
- ^ Carman 1974, p. 24.
- ^ Carman 1994, pp. 82-87 with footnotes.
- ^ a b William M. Indich (1995). Consciousness in Advaita Vedanta. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 1–2, 97–102. ISBN 978-81-208-1251-2. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
- ^ a b c d Bruce M. Sullivan (2001). The A to Z of Hinduism. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 239. ISBN 978-0-8108-4070-6.
- ^ C. J. Bartley 2013, pp. 1–2, 9–10, 76–79, 87–98.
- ^ Sean Doyle (2006). Synthesizing the Vedanta: The Theology of Pierre Johanns, S.J. Peter Lang. pp. 59–62. ISBN 978-3-03910-708-7.
- ^ a b c Mishra, Patit Paban (2012). "Ramanuja (ca. 1077–ca. 1157)". Rāmānuja (ca. 1077–ca. 1157) in Encyclopedia of Global Religion (Editors: Mark Juergensmeyer & Wade Clark Roof). doi:10.4135/9781412997898.n598. ISBN 9780761927297.
- ^ Narasimhacharya 2004, p. 17.
- ^ Carman 1994, pp. 45, 80.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Ramanuja | Hindu theologian and philosopher". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
- ^ "Ramanuja's explanation". The Hindu. 13 January 2014. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 19 December 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
- ^ a b Sakkottai Krishnaswami Aiyangar. Ancient India: Collected Essays on the Literary and Political History of Southern India. Asian Educational Services, 2004. p. 195.
- ^ Alkandavilli Govindāchārya (1906). The Life of Râmânujâchârya: The Exponent of the Viśistâdvaita Philosophy. S. Murthy. pp. 62–70.
- ^ a b c Katherine Young (1996). Steven Rosen (ed.). Vaiṣṇavī. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 286–288. ISBN 978-81-208-1437-0.
- ^ a b c Jon Paul Sydnor (2012). Rāmānuja and Schleiermacher: Toward a Constructive Comparative Theology. Casemate. pp. 84–87. ISBN 978-0227680247. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
- ^ a b Carman 1994, p. 82 with footnotes.
- ^ Keith E. Yandell 2001, pp. 149–150.
- ^ a b Carman 1994, p. 80.
- ^ Jon Paul Sydnor (2012). Rāmānuja and Schleiermacher: Toward a Constructive Comparative Theology. Casemate. pp. 10–11. ISBN 978-0227680247. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
- ^ a b Smt. Latha Balasubramanian. Sri Ramanuja Pictorial. Sri Ramakrishna Math.
- ^ a b c d Compilation. The Complete Works of Swami Ramakrishnananda, Volume 2. Lulu Press, Inc, 2014.
- ^ a b Narasimhacharya 2004, p. 21.
- ^ a b K.V. Raman (2003). Sri Varadarajaswami Temple, Kanchi: A Study of Its History, Art and Architecture. Abhinav Publications. p. 15. ISBN 978-81-7017-026-6.
- ^ Sarojini Jagannathan. Impact of Śrī Rāmānujāçārya on Temple Worship. Nag Publishers, 1994. p. 114.
- ^ B. S. Chandrababu, S. Ganeshram, C. Bhavani. History of People and Their Environs: Essays in Honour of Prof. B.S. Chandrababu. Bharathi Puthakalayam, 2011. p. 278.
- ^ Sarojini Jagannathan. Impact of Śrī Rāmānujāçārya on Temple Worship. Nag Publishers, 1994. p. 148.
- ^ a b Raju Kalidos. History and Culture of the Tamils: From Prehistoric Times to the President's Rule. Vijay Publications, 1976. p. 139.
- ^ N. Subrahmanian. Social and cultural history of Tamilnad, Volume 1. Ennes, 1993. p. 158.
- ^ Maṇḍikalrāma Śāstrī, Es. Ār Līlā, Bi. Es Rāmakr̥ṣṇarāv. Meghapratisandesha: With English Translation. Mandikal Ramashastry Pratishthana, 2000. p. 142.
- ^ V. N. Hari Rao. Kōil Ol̤ugu: The Chronicle of the Srirangam Temple with Historical Notes. Rochouse, 1961. p. 87.
- ^ Mu Kōvintacāmi. A Survey of the Sources for the History of Tamil Literature. Annamalai University, 1977. p. 161.
- ^ C. R. Sreenivasa Ayyangar. The Life and Teachings of Sri Ramanujacharya. R. Venkateshwar, 1908. p. 239.
- ^ Colin Mackenzie. T. V. Mahalingam (ed.). Mackenzie manuscripts; summaries of the historical manuscripts in the Mackenzie collection, Volume 1. University of Madras, 1972. p. 14.
- ^ B. S. Chandrababu, S. Ganeshram, C. Bhavani. History of People and Their Environs: Essays in Honour of Prof. B.S. Chandrababu. Bharathi Puthakalayam, 2011. p. 163.
- ^ Narasimhacharya 2004, p. 11.
- ^ Arvind Sharma. Reservation and Affirmative Action: Models of Social Integration in India and the United States. SAGE, 2005. p. 139.
- ^ Radha Champakalakshmi. Trade, ideology, and urbanization: South India 300 BC to AD 1300. Oxford University Press, 1996. p. 397.
- ^ Roshen Dalal. Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin Books India, 2010. p. 385.
- ^ Jörg Gengnagel, Ute Hüsken, Srilata Raman (2005). Words and Deeds: Hindu and Buddhist Rituals in South Asia. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, 2005. p. 91. ISBN 9783447051521.
- ^ Sri Ramakrishna Math, Madras. The Vedanta Kesari, Volume 76. Sri Ramakrishna Math., 1989. p. 90.
- ^ Swami Tapasyananda (19 December 2013). Sri Ramanuja: His Life Religion and Philosophy. Lulu Press, Inc, 2013. ISBN 9781304729071.
- ^ Shiri Ram Bakshi, Sangh Mittra. Saints of India: Sri Ramanuja. Criterion, 2002. pp. 201–202.
- ^ Lipner, Julius J. (30 March 1986). The Face of Truth: A Study of Meaning and Metaphysics in the Vedantic Theology of Ramanuja. Albany, N. Y: State University of New York Press. pp. 1–2. ISBN 978-0-88706-039-7.
- ^ Robert Lester (1966), Rāmānujā and Shri Vaishnavism: the Concept of Prapatti or Sharanagati, History of Religion, Volume 5, Issue 2, pages 266-282
- ^ Jon Paul Sydnor (2012). Rāmānuja and Schleiermacher: Toward a Constructive Comparative Theology. Casemate. pp. 3–4. ISBN 978-0227680247. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
- ^ a b c d e Joseph P. Schultz (1981). Judaism and the Gentile Faiths: Comparative Studies in Religion. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press. pp. 81–84. ISBN 978-0-8386-1707-6. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
- ^ "Ramanuja | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Archived from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ T.c.a.ramanujam (24 November 2016). "His philosophy was based on Vedic texts". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ "Ramanuja | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy". Archived from the original on 17 July 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ "Ramanuja | Hindu theologian and philosopher | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ "Ramanuja | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy". Archived from the original on 17 July 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
- ^ a b Sri Ramanuja. Sri Bhashya Of Ramanuja Melkote Edition.
- ^ a b c Stafford Betty (2010), Dvaita, Advaita, and Viśiṣṭādvaita: Contrasting Views of Mokṣa, Asian Philosophy: An International Journal of the Philosophical Traditions of the East, Volume 20, Issue 2, pages 215-224
- ^ Bartley, C. J. (2011). An introduction to Indian philosophy. London: Continuum. p. 178. ISBN 978-1-84706-448-6.
- ^ a b "Ramanuja | Hindu theologian and philosopher | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ "What is Vishishtadvaita? - Definition from Yogapedia". Yogapedia.com. Archived from the original on 20 November 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Ramanuja | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy". Archived from the original on 17 July 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ "Vishishtadvaita | Hindu philosophy | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Archived from the original on 20 November 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ Sukthankar, Vasudev Anant. The Teachings of Vedanta according to Ramanuja (PDF). pp. 20–25. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 November 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ "Ramanuja | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Archived from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
- ^ Grimes 1990.
- ^ a b c d e f Shyam Ranganathan (2011), Ramanuja (c. 1017 - c. 1137)[permanent dead link], IEP, York University
- ^ a b c Carman 1994, p. 86.
- ^ Mayeda 2006, pp. 46–53.
- ^ Mayeda & Tanizawa (1991), Studies on Indian Philosophy in Japan, 1963–1987, Philosophy East and West, Vol. 41, No. 4, pages 529–535
- ^ Michael Comans (1996), Śankara and the Prasankhyanavada, Journal of Indian Philosophy, Vol. 24, No. 1, pages 49–71
- ^ Carman 1994, pp. 86–88.
- ^ Julius Lipner (1986), The Face of Truth: A Study of Meaning and Metaphysics in the Vedantic Theology of Rāmānujā, State University of New York Press, ISBN 978-0887060397, pages 120-123
- ^ Sharma 1994, p. 11-17, 372.
- ^ Edward Craig (2000), Concise Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Routledge, ISBN 978-0415223645, pages 517-518
- ^ Sharma 1994, p. 373.
- ^ a b Stoker 2011.
- ^ Sharma 1994, pp. 373–374.
- ^ Sharma 1994, p. 374.
- ^ a b Christopher Etter (2006). A Study of Qualitative Non-Pluralism. iUniverse. pp. 57–60, 63–65. ISBN 978-0-595-39312-1.
- ^ Sharma 1994, pp. 374–375.
- ^ Bryant 2007, pp. 361–362.
- ^ Roy W. Perrett (2013). Philosophy of Religion: Indian Philosophy. Routledge. pp. 247–248. ISBN 978-1-135-70322-6.
- ^ Coward, Harold G. (2008). The Perfectibility of Human Nature in Eastern and Western Thought. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press. pp. 139–141. ISBN 9780791473351.
- ^ J.A.B. van Buitenen (2008), Rāmānuja - Hindu theologian and Philosopher[permanent dead link], Encyclopædia Britannica
- ^ Ganeri, Martin (2007). "Knowledge and Love of God in Ramanuja and Aquinas". Journal of Hindu-Christian Studies. 20 (1). doi:10.7825/2164-6279.1381.
- ^ Carman, John B. (2007). "Loving God as a Devoted Servant". Journal of Hindu-Christian Studies. 20 (1). doi:10.7825/2164-6279.1384.
- ^ Sean Doyle (2006). Synthesizing the Vedanta: The Theology of Pierre Johanns, S.J. Peter Lang. pp. 235–239. ISBN 978-3-03910-708-7.
- ^ Narasimhacharya 2004, p. 23.
- ^ Dasgupta 1991, p. 114.
- ^ Apparasu, Rao (19 November 2017). "Telangana's 216-feet statue of Sri Ramanujacharya to be completed by March". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 16 October 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
- ^ "PM Unveils 'Statue of Equality' in Hyderabad, Says 'Ramanujacharya's Values Will Strengthen India'". News18.com. 5 February 2022. Archived from the original on 5 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ Haas, Ernst (1876). Catalogue of Sanskrit and Pali Books in the British Museum by Ernst Haas. Trübner. p. 15. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
Sources[edit]
- Ayyangar, S. Krishnaswami; Chariar, Rajagopala; Rangacharya, M (1911). Sri Ramanujacharya: a Sketch of his Life and Times and his Philosophical System. G. A. Natesan & Co.
- C. J. Bartley (2013). The Theology of Rāmānuja: Realism and Religion. Routledge. pp. 1–4, 52–53, 79. ISBN 978-1-136-85306-7.
- Bryant, Edwin (2007). Krishna : A Sourcebook (Chapter 15 by Deepak Sarma). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195148923.
- Carman, John (1974). The Theology of Rāmānuja: An essay in interreligious understanding. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0300015218.
- Carman, John B. (1994). Majesty and Meekness: A Comparative Study of Contrast and Harmony in the Concept of God. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. ISBN 978-0802806932.
- Dasgupta, Surendranath (1991). A history of Indian philosophy. Motilal Banarsidass Publisher. ISBN 9788120804081.
- Dalal, Roshen (2011). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin Books India. p. 339. ISBN 978-0-14-341421-6.
- Devamani, B. S. (1990). The Religion of Rāmānuja: A Christian Appraisal. Christian Literature Society.
- Duraisingh, Christopher (1979). Toward an Indian-Christian Theology, Rāmānuja's Significance a Study of the Significance of Rāmānuja's Theological Hermeneutics for an Indian-Christian Understanding of the Relation Between God and All-else. Harvard University Press.
- Jones, Constance; Ryan, James D. (2006), Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Infobase Publishing
- Lott, Eric J. (1976). God and the universe in the Vedāntic theology of Rāmānuja: a study in his use of the self-body analogy. Rāmānuja Research Society.
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External links[edit]
Biographies
- Biography and works, The Internet encyclopaedia of Philosophy
- Biography of Ramanuja, Sanskrit.org
Works
- Rāmānuja Biography, Surendranath Dasgupta, 1940
- Rāmānuja Literature, Surendranath Dasgupta, 1940
- Bibliography of Ramanuja's works, Item 637, Karl Potter, University of Washington
- Sri Bhashya: Rāmānujacharya's commentary on Vedanta Sutras, translated By George Thibaut (1904)
- Works by Ramanuja at Project Gutenberg
- Works by or about Ramanuja at Internet Archive
Others
