Sri Ramanuja - the Vaishnava Saint.

There have been a number of saint philosophers who lived in India during the last millennium. None of them could match Sri Ramanujar in their ability to interpret ancient scriptures suitable to reasoning of an inquiring and enthusiastic mind.

He turned a new leaf in the realms of the Indian way of life which is called as Hinduism by the people at large in the western countries, His interpretation of the ancient Brahma Sutra, written by Saint Vyasa , the author of notable books like Srimad Bhagavatam and Mahabharatam, brought in a new concept of the relation between the Soul and the Ultimate reality (Easwara) known as Visishtadvaitam or qualified monism by western philosophers.

This brought in the latest religion in the world called as Srivaishnavism or Vaishnavism to be short. He also wrote a new interpretation to Srimad Bhagvad Gita, the most popular Hindu book in the Globe, and also brought in a movement called Bakthi movement in the Indian subcontinent.

The Hare Krishna Hare Rama movement which is very popular in the west and the Swami Narayan movement, which has been building very large Temples in almost all the continents of the world, are branches of Vaishnavism.

Sri Ramanujar Temple, SriPerumbudur

Ashtanga Vimana Temple, Thirukoshtiyur, Sivaganga District

He shouted out to everyone from the roof top of the Ashtanga Vimana Temple, Thirukoshtiyur, Sivaganga District, the words- OM NAMO NARAYANA. He exhorted to one and all, that the name of God alone is enough to grant them salvation or moksha.

Sri Ramanujar travelled throughout India and won over people of opposing ideologies who came to debate with him. Some of them conceded defeat and there were others who became followers of his ideology and became his disciples. The important among such people were great Advaita Scholars like His teacher, Yadava Prakasar, Yagnamoorthy a well known scholar of that time from Varanasi. Sri Ramanujar had a very big following and more number of direct disciples who later established mutts and spread vii Sri Vaishnavam across the breadth and length of India.

His impact was so much so that his mortal remains was enbalmed and kept in an enclosed sanctum sanctorum, within the premises of the Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple at Srirangam which was a unique gesture that was offered to no other Acharya. Sri Ramanujar was born in the year 1017 AD at Sriperumbudur, and the current year (2017) happens to be the thousandth year after his birth.

SRI RAMANUJACHARYA’S MESSAGES

Shed your ego. Serve all beings as service to God.

Serve society which is the universal form of God.

Nobody is infallible.

Do not humiliate anyone.

What is of supreme importance is purity of mind and deed

Credits:

Sri RAMANUJAR -Saint of equality- Ethirasan Kaliar; Image: Pinterest