Essentials of Visistadvaita

Language: English
Pages: 246


Preface

Here is a manual on the philosophy of Visistadvaita and on Srivaisnavaism,, the religious part of Visistadvaita. Such manuals can fulfil a very important role, helping us understand the philosophical framework of different systems of philosophy. For instance, Tarka Sangraha of Annambhatta pertaining to Nyaya Vaisesika School, Artha Sangraha and Mimamsa paribhasa highlighting the basic tenets of Mimamsa School of philosophy are outstanding models of such manuals. Similarly Vedanta karikavali of Bucci Venkatacarya and Yatindra-mata-dipika have put forth outstanding efforts in producing such manuals on the philosophy of Visistadvaita.

At this Juncture we should not fail to recognize monumental manual of Visistadvaita and Srivaisnavaism viz. Tattvatrayam authored by the great genius Pillai-Lokacarya, which is often praised as Kuttibhasyam, or in other words a Mini- Sribhasyam since it provides the basic tenets of Visistadvaita in a nutshell, that too in a precise and perfect manner as are enshrined in Sribhasyam, a great commentary on the Brahmasutras of BAdarayai3a authored by Sri Ramanujacarya. Over a period of time things have changed. Indians have become alien to their own divine mother tongue, Sanskrit, which was capable of conveying any thought pertaining to Indian culture. In previous times, every person born in a Srivaisnava family was essentially a scholar in Visistadvaita and Srivaisnavism. However, Macaulay’s education system weaned away most of the Srivaisnavas from their culture. Sanskrit education took a back seat and slowly even the people belonging to the scholarly tradition forgot their divine mother tongue. All the while though, sporadic interest in understanding the traditional philosophical and cultural heritage has been expressed here and there.

To quench the curiosity of such seekers of knowledge,