श्री
ஸ்ரீராமஜெயம்,
ஸ்ரீராமஜெயம்,
ஸ்ரீராமஜெயம்,
Sri Ramanuja Siddhanta Sabhai is a religious and spiritual organization dedicated to propagating the philosophical teachings (Siddhanta) of Ramanuja, the great theologian and proponent of Vishishtadvaita philosophy.
Sri Ramanuja was a prominent Hindu philosopher and social reformer who systematized Vishishtadvaita Vedanta (Qualified Non-Dualism), emphasizing devotion (Bhakti) to Lord Vishnu and advocating social equality in spiritual practice. He opened temple worship to all communities and strengthened the Sri Vaishnava tradition. He is especially associated with the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple and the Melukote Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple.
Siddhanta means established doctrine or philosophical conclusion. In the context of Sri Ramanuja's tradition, it refers to:
Established around 1917 near the Kolar Gold Fields (KGF), our Sabha has been a beacon of Sri Vaishnava tradition for over a century. The Sabha is dedicated to:
Sri Ramanujar (1017–1137 CE) is one of the most influential theologians of Indian philosophy and the foremost exponent of Vishishtadvaita (Qualified Non-Dualism). His system is a profound synthesis of metaphysics, devotion, and social ethics grounded in the Brahma Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Upanishads.
The word Vishishtadvaita means:
Thus, Reality is One, but this Oneness is qualified by diversity. God is One, but that One includes souls and matter as His attributes.
Ramanuja explains existence through three eternal realities:
1. Ishvara (God)
2. Chit (Individual Souls)
3. Achit (Matter)
Ramanuja compares this to the Body–Soul relationship: just as the body depends on the soul, the universe (souls + matter) depends on God. This is called Sharira–Shariri Bhava.
Unlike Shankara's Nirguna Brahman (without attributes), Ramanuja insists that:
For Ramanuja, God is not abstract consciousness but a loving, personal deity.
Bhakti is:
Bhakti is not mere ritual but deep spiritual engagement.
One of Ramanuja's most revolutionary contributions is Prapatti (self-surrender). It includes:
Prapatti is open to all people, regardless of caste or gender.
According to Ramanuja:
This differs from Advaita, where liberation means dissolution into Brahman.
Ramanuja accepts three valid sources of knowledge:
Scripture is the highest authority.
Ramanuja was also a social reformer:
His work helped democratize Hindu devotional religion.
| Aspect | Shankara (Advaita) | Ramanuja (Vishishtadvaita) |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of God | Nirguna (without qualities) | Saguna (with qualities) |
| World | Illusory (Maya) | Real |
| Soul | Identical with Brahman | Distinct but dependent |
| Liberation | Merging | Eternal service |
Ramanuja's system:
Sri Ramanuja authored several foundational works that systematized Vishishtadvaita philosophy. These texts primarily interpret the Brahma Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Upanishads.
1. Sri Bhashya
2. Vedartha Sangraha
3. Gita Bhashya
4. Vedanta Sara
5. Vedanta Dipa
6. Nitya Grantham
Though not authored by Ramanuja himself, these are central to his tradition:
Ramanuja's writings:
Nālāyira Divya Prabandham – The 4000 Sacred Tamil Hymns
The Divya Prabandham is the central devotional scripture of the Sri Vaishnava tradition. It consists of 4000 Tamil hymns composed by the twelve Alvars (Vaishnava poet-saints) between the 6th and 9th centuries CE. It is regarded as the "Tamil Veda" because it conveys Vedic truths in devotional Tamil poetry.
The twelve Alvars include:
Among them, Nammalvar is considered the most philosophically profound, and Andal is the only female Alvar.
The hymns were compiled by Nathamuni, who recovered and organized the 4000 hymns into a structured canon, preserving them for temple liturgy.
Some major components include:
✦ Tiruvaymozhi (by Nammalvar)
✦ Tiruppavai (by Andal)
✦ Periyalvar Tirumozhi
✦ Amalanadipiran (by Tiruppaan Alvar)
The Divya Prabandham:
It deeply influenced the theology of Ramanuja, who elevated these Tamil hymns to scriptural authority equal to the Sanskrit Vedas.
The Divya Prabandham is:
In Simple Words: The Divya Prabandham is the heart of Sri Vaishnavism. If Ramanuja systematized the philosophy intellectually, the Alvars expressed it emotionally and poetically.
The Divya Prabandham (Nālāyira Divya Prabandham) is a collection of 4000 sacred Tamil hymns composed by the twelve Alvars, the great Vaishnava poet-saints of South India. Written between the 6th and 9th centuries CE, these hymns express deep devotion to Lord Sriman Narayana and form the spiritual foundation of the Sri Vaishnava tradition. Compiled and preserved by the revered Acharya Nathamuni, it is lovingly called the "Tamil Veda", conveying the profound truths of the Vedas in the sweet and accessible language of Tamil.
Among the Alvars, Nammalvar is celebrated for his philosophical depth in the Tiruvaymozhi, while Andal — the only woman saint among them — is revered for her devotional masterpiece Tiruppavai, sung especially during the holy month of Margazhi. Ramanuja upheld these Tamil hymns with the same authority as the Sanskrit scriptures and integrated them into temple worship and theological study.
At Sri Bhagawat Ramanuja Siddhanta Prachar Sabha, the recitation and study of the Divya Prabandham continue as a sacred tradition. Through these hymns, devotees experience loving surrender (Prapatti), devotion (Bhakti), and the eternal bond between the soul and the Divine. The Divya Prabandham remains not only a scripture but a living spiritual heritage — uniting philosophy, poetry, and devotion in the service of Sriman Narayana.
