Ramanujacharya Jayanti 2024 - Philosophy & History

Amongst Indian saints and Indian tradition, Ramanujacharya Ji too is a popular name. He is famous in the field of philosophy. He preached devotion through his knowledge and spiritual energy. Being a Vaishnava Saint he also had an impact on traditionally followed rituals. This year Ramanujacharya Jayanti will be celebrated on 12 May 2024, Sunday.

Ramanujacharya’s Era

Ramanujacharya ‘s era was from 1017 AD to 1137 AD. He was born in the Tirukudur region of South India. The first disciple of Ramanujacharya was Ramanand followed by Kabir, Raydas and Surdas.

A specific dualism of Ramanujacharya

Acharya Ramanuja's theory of Vishishtadvaita Darshan depicts several old beliefs. This philosophy is an opinion from amongst various old Darshans. It’s school of thought is one of the most popular among all those preached by Ramanujacharya. It gained mileage on account of religious rebellion that took place in South India.

The meaning of the Vishishtadvaita brings the doctrine of a specific Advaita to the fore. Ramanujacharya popularised this concept between 1037-1137 A.D. This philosophical view states that both the universe and the living beings are different from Brahma, but they originate from the same Brahma, thus there is a very close relationship. This relationship can be understood with examples such as soul in a body, the Sun and its rays etc. Brahma has many forms but is still singular.

Ramanuja Ji studied Vedas and classified the Vedas into different categories - the unity of the Upanishads and Vedanta Sutras formed the basis of his method. In the form of God, the living entity in Brahm is related in its entirety, Ramanuja elaborated his views on these things.

In Vishishtadvaita Darshan it has been mentioned that our body is Vishishta, the soul is Ansh and God is Anshi. Before the existence of the world, the situation was ‘Sukshma Chit Vishith Brahma’, after the origin of the world, the situation is 'Sthool Chit Vishitha Brahma'. 'Tayo Ek Iti Brahma' is when the soul is freed from the body. The soul is freed from all its boundaries and it merges into Brahma. This phenomenon is called Moksha. The soul that gets freed from the body becomes equivalent to God but is not completely God.

What is the difference between the views of Shankaracharya and Ramanujacharya?

This theory of Acharya Ramanuja also appears to contradict Adi Shankaracharya's thoughts. Shankaracharya called the world Maya. Ramanujacharya says that this world was created by Brahma so how can it be Maya.

Ramanujacharya holds a pioneer position in Guru-Disciple relation

Ramanujacharya was a disciple of Yadav Prakash, but after sometime ideological differences started emerging in between them. They parted ways, however, Shri Yadav Prakash felt bad about it. He took Sanyas and started serving Shri Ramanujacharya by becoming his disciple. Shri Ramanujacharya too was believed to be a family man, later he abandons the material world and sets out to fulfill his purpose.

The relation between Ramanujacharya and Yamunacharya

Ramanujacharya Ji learned a lot from Yamunacharya Ji, an 11th-century scholar. But some followers believe that Ramanujacharya Ji didn’t meet Yamunacharya as Yamunacharya had died before the birth of Ramanujacharya.

According to some poets, Ramanujacharya got Yamunacharya’s position after Yamunacharya’s death. Ramunacahrya established himself as the new Guru of Shri Vaishnav community only after Yamunacharya’s death.

Shri Ramanujacharya used to live in Kanchipuram and Yamunacharya Ji was a famous Alvar saint of Mathadish. It is believed that, when Yamunacharya Ji realised that he was going to die, he asked his disciples to call Ramanujacharya Ji. His disciples send the message to Ramanujacharya Ji. Ramanujacharya Ji at once leaves for Mathadish but Yamunacharya Ji dies before Ramunajacharya could see him. Hence it is believed that the two never met.

When Ramanujacharya Ji saw the dead body of Yamunacharya Ji, he noticed that his three fingers were bent inwards. Everybody tries to decode the secret behind it. Explaining the mystery of the secret, Shri Ramanujacharya Ji says aloud - ‘to all those people who are enjoying life without understanding its true meaning, I will protect them without any discrimination by taking them under the blessings of Lord Vishnu’. It is believed on hearing these words Shri Yamunacharya Ji’s one finger straightens.

In the second vow, Ramanujacharya Ji says that -’I will write Shri Bhashya to protect people and give them better knowledge’. On hearing these words Yamunacharya Ji’s second finger straightens. In the last vow, Ramanujacharya Ji says that - ‘Just like Parashar Muni wrote Vishnu Purana for the development and welfare of the people, similarly I will train a disciple and make him as capable as Yamunacharya name to pay Yamunacharya’s debt. ‘

Finally, on hearing these words the last finger of Yamunacharya Ji became straightened. On seeing these miracles all the disciples and people present accept Ramanujacraya as the next Alvandar without any doubt.