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What is the News?
The Prime Minister has inaugurated the Statue of Equality in Hyderabad. The statue commemorates the 11th-century Bhakti Saint Sri Ramanujacharya.
Who was Ramanujacharya?
Ramanujacharya was a Vedic philosopher and social reformer. He is the founder of Bhakti Marg. He is also considered to be the inspiration for poets like Annamacharya, Ramdas, Thyagaraja, Kabir, and Meerabai.
He appealed for the protection of nature and its resources like air, water, and soil.
| Read more: The nature Of the Bhakti literature and its contribution to Indian culture. |
He is also credited with establishing the correct procedures for rituals performed in temples throughout India, the most famous being Tirumala and Srirangam.
He encouraged temples to open their doors to everyone irrespective of caste or position in society at a time when people of many castes were forbidden from entering them.
He propagated the concept of “vasudhaiva kutumbakam”, which translates as “all the universe is one family”.
He spoke of universal salvation through devotion to God, compassion, humility, equality, and mutual respect which is known as Sri Vaishnavam Sampradaya.
Source: This post is based on the article “PM dedicates to the nation 216-feet tall ‘Statue of Equality’ commemorating Sri Ramanujacharya” published in PIB on 7th Feb 2022.
