Sri Bhashya (Ramanuja)

Śrībhāṣya

Ramanuja's commentary on the Brahma Sutras, the foundational text of Vishishtadvaita, 'qualified non-dualism'.

Traditional commentarySource not yet ingested

Tradition: Vishishtadvaita Vedanta · Vedanta · Bhakti traditions
Difficulty: advanced
Attribution: RamanujacharyaRamanujacharya
Period · language: Traditionally 11th–12th century CE (Ramanuja's traditional dates are 1017–1137) · Sanskrit
Themes: Brahman as personal God · Body-soul relation · Critique of Advaita · Devotion

Why read this?

The Sri Bhashya presents a full alternative to Shankara: Brahman is a personal God with real qualities, and souls and the world are real, related to God as body to soul. Its critique of Advaita's doctrine of ignorance is one of the major debates in Indian philosophy.

Questions it answers

?Is Brahman with or without qualities?
?Is the world real?
?How can God be one if souls and matter are real?

Key teachings

Editorial overview

Brahman has qualities

Brahman is identified with Vishnu-Narayana, possessed of infinite auspicious qualities and free of all defects.

The world as God's body

Souls and matter are real and form the body of God, who is their inner self; their relation is one of inseparable dependence (sharira-shariri bhava).

Critique of ignorance

Ramanuja argues that Advaita's notion of avidya cannot be coherently located or defined, and that scripture does not teach an unqualified Brahman.

Devotion as knowledge

Liberation comes through devotion understood as a continuous loving meditation on God, together with God's grace.

Structure

Commentary on all four chapters of the Brahma SutrasThe discussion at 1.1.1 contains the extended critique of Advaita

Important passages

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References only — the passages themselves are not reproduced until the source text is ingested.

On 1.1.1The extended critique of the Advaita doctrine of ignorance

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The text of the Sri Bhashya (Ramanuja) is not part of this version. What you see here is an editorial overview with passage references. No verses have been reproduced or invented. The architecture is ready for the text to be added.

Concepts

Conceptब्रह्मन्BrahmanThe ultimate reality, the ground from which everything arises.Conceptईश्वरIshvara — GodThe Lord — God as ruler, creator and object of worship.ConceptजीवJiva — the individual soulThe living, embodied individual who acts, experiences and transmigrates.Conceptभक्तिBhakti — devotionLoving devotion to God, as a path and as an end in itself.Conceptप्रपत्तिPrapatti — refuge in GodTaking refuge in God as the sole means, a central teaching of Sri Vaishnavism.Conceptअनुग्रहAnugraha — graceDivine grace — God's freely given favour that frees the soul.ConceptमायाMayaThe power of appearance — why the world seems other than it is.Conceptअविद्याAvidya — ignoranceFundamental misunderstanding of oneself and reality — the root of bondage.Conceptमोक्षMoksha — liberationFinal freedom from bondage and the cycle of rebirth.Conceptअद्वैत / अद्वयNon-duality (advaya / advaita)The claim that reality is ultimately 'not two' — understood very differently across schools.ConceptशरणागतिSharanagatiTaking refuge in God; total surrender.

Textब्रह्मसूत्रBrahma SutrasThe root text Textब्रह्मसूत्रभाष्यBrahma Sutra Bhashya (Shankara)The Advaita commentary it critiques Textवेदार्थसंग्रहVedartha SangrahaRamanuja's independent work presenting his reading of the Upanishads Textगीताभाष्यGita Bhashya (Ramanuja)Applies the same theology to the Gita Textबृहदारण्यकोपनिषद्Brihadaranyaka UpanishadThe antaryamin passage is central to his theology

Thinkers

Thinkerरामानुजाचार्यRamanujacharyaTraditionally 1017–1137 CE; the traditional lifespan of 120 years is often questioned and scholars treat the dates as approximate (11th–12th century CE).

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Traditions

विशिष्टाद्वैतVishishtadvaita Vedanta वेदान्तVedanta भक्तिBhakti traditions

Source type: Traditional commentary. Overview text on this page is editorial.