Unit 2: Visishtadvaita Vedanta of Ramanuja
The Philosophy of Qualified Non-Dualism.
1. Tattva-traya (The Three Realities)
Ramanuja recognizes three eternal realities that are real and distinct, yet unified. This is his Ontological Trinity:
- Cit: The individual souls. They are eternal, conscious, and many.
- Acit: Insentient matter or the physical universe. It is real, not an illusion.
- Ishvara: God (Brahman). The supreme reality that contains and controls both Cit and Acit.
2. Concept of Brahman
Ramanuja categorically rejects Sankara’s "Nirguna Brahman" (attribute-less).
For Ramanuja, Brahman is Saguna (with attributes). God is a personal being, full of "infinite auspicious qualities" (Ananta-kalyana-guna) like love, compassion, and power. He identifies Brahman with Lord Vishnu/Narayana.
3. Aprthaksiddhi: The Body-Soul Relationship
How can the world be non-dual if there are three realities? Ramanuja uses the Sharira-Shariri Bhava analogy:
- Just as the soul (Shariri) is the master and the body (Sharira) is its instrument/attribute, God is the "Soul" of the universe, and individual souls and matter are His "Body."
- Aprthaksiddhi: This is the "Inseparable relationship." Cit and Acit cannot exist without Ishvara, just as a quality (blue) cannot exist without a substance (lotus). They are distinct but inseparable.
4. Critique of Maya (Saptavidha Anupapatti)
Ramanuja’s most famous contribution is his seven-fold critique of Sankara’s concept of Maya. He argues that Maya is logically impossible:
- Ashraya-anupapatti: Where does Maya live? It can't live in the individual (who is produced by Maya) or in Brahman (who is pure light).
- Tirodhana-anupapatti: How can Maya hide Brahman’s light? If Brahman is self-luminous, hiding it would mean destroying it.
- Svarupa-anupapatti: What is the nature of Maya? Is it real or unreal? Sankara says it's neither, but Ramanuja says things must be either real or unreal.
- Anirvachaniya-anupapatti: Logic doesn't allow for a third category "indescribable."
(He concludes that Maya is simply God’s wonderful creative power, not an illusion.)
5. Bondage and Liberation
Bondage is caused by Karma and Avidya (forgetting one's dependence on God). Liberation is attained through:
- Bhakti: Constant meditation and loving devotion to God.
- Prapatti: Total surrender to God’s grace (Sharanagati). This is available to everyone, regardless of caste or learning.
- Videhamukti: Unlike Sankara, Ramanuja believes liberation only happens after death. The soul goes to Vaikuntha to live in the presence of God forever. The soul becomes *like* God in nature but never becomes identical to Him.
Exam Essentials
- Key Difference: Sankara says Atman = Brahman. Ramanuja says Atman is a part (Amsha) of Brahman.
- Satkaryavada: Ramanuja follows Brahma-parinamavada. The world is a real transformation of God’s attributes.
- Short Note: "Explain the concept of Aprthaksiddhi."
- Essay Topic: "Discuss Ramanuja’s critique of the Advaita theory of Maya."