The Foundations of Visishtadvaita: Commemorating Millennium Ramanuja (1017 - 2017 A.D)

The Vaishnavite Tradition of Bhagavan Ramanuja has taken deep roots among his followers not only in the place of its origin, India but throughout the world. The alternative route the tradition has taken for its propagation is the well known ISKCON movement, for example, based on extensive teachings as in Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavatam and should also include Vishnu Purana, Veda Vyasa's Brahma Sutras if one keeps in mind the Gita sloka 13.4 in view. Bhagavan Ramanuja established in his Magnum Opus, Sri Bhashya (Commentary on the Brahma Sutras) that the ultimate God-head Sriman Narayana from the twin standpoints of The Architect of Creation (jagatkarana) and as the only God who confers Infinite Bliss (moksha pradatvam). The cardinal principles of Visishtadvaita are embedded in four books : Gita Bhashya, Sri Bhashya, Bhagavad Vishaya and Rahasya Traya Sara.The first one viz.Gita Bhashya has already been dealt with by the author. In this book, the second and third are taken up for treatment in extenso. The fourth, Rahasya Traya Sara of Swami Desika serves as the summary of the first three works. The points of deviation between Shankara's Advaita and Ramanuja's Visishtadvaita are brought out in this book in clear relief and in easy to understand English. The treatment of the difficult terms and phrases are explained in the light of contextual references (of about a 100). In short, the book is a must for understanding the philosophy of Ramanuja's Visishtadvaita.