Q. With reference to the philosophy and contributions of Ramanujacharya (c. 11th-12th century CE), consider the following statements:
1.His philosophy of Vishishtadvaita (Qualified Monism) posits that individual souls (chit) and matter (achit) are real and eternally connected to God (Brahman) as His body, but they are not illusory.
2.He successfully challenged orthodox Hindu practices by making the concept of total surrender (prapatti) to God the sole means of liberation, open to all including the socially marginalized.
3.He accepted the concept of a living liberated person (Jivanmukti) as achievable through the grace of God during one’s lifetime.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: C
Notes:
Explanation:
- Statement 1: Correct. Vishishtadvaita means “qualified non-dualism.” Ramanuja opposed Shankara’s idea of the world being Maya, asserting that the world and souls are real and constitute the ‘body’ of God (Brahman), with the relationship likened to that of a body and soul.
- Statement 2: Correct. Ramanuja championed both Bhakti (devotion) and Prapatti (total surrender) as the means to moksha. He was a great social reformer, calling oppressed communities Thirukkulathar (Divine-Born) and using these paths to democratize the religious experience across caste lines.
- Statement 3: Incorrect. Unlike Advaita, Ramanuja’s Vishishtadvaita tradition typically holds that the soul retains its distinct individuality and that liberation is achieved only after death (videhamukti) when the soul travels to Vaikuntha (God’s abode). The concept of Jivanmukti (liberation while living) is generally not accepted in Vishishtadvaita. His notable works include “Sribhashya,” “Vedanta dipa,” “Gita Bhasya,” and “Vedantasara.”
