Ramanujacharya – Biography - ebooks - ISKCON desire tree

considered that these might sound more familiar to thereader.One further point that I feel should be mentioned atthis stage is the debt that all Vaisnavas owe toRamanujacarya, whether they be within or outside of hisdirect disciplic succession. As Gaudiya Vaisnavas, most ofour philosophical doctrines come from the writings of thesix gosvamis of Vrindavana, in which they transcribed theteachings that had been given orally by Caitanya MahaprabhuHimself. However, any devotee who studies the philosophicalteachings of Ramanuja, and Yamunacarya also, will quicklyrealize how much we have inherited from him in our basicphilosophical conclusions. Particularly in the refutation ofthe mayavada ideas of Sankara, the works of Ramanuja play akey role. As Srila Prabhupada explains: "The statements ofthe Sankara philosophy, which are the teeth of the mayavadiphilosopher, are always broken by the strong arguments ofthe Vaisnava philosophers such as the great acaryas,especially Ramanujacarya."Finally I would tike to offer my most humbleobeisances at the feet of His Divine Grace A. C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, without whose mercy theglories of the Vaisnava acaryas would still be a closedsubject to the Western world. I would also like to thank allthe devotees who have helped and encouraged me in devotionalservice over the years. I am well aware that there are manydiscrepancies and shortcomings in this presentation, but Iam praying that all the Vaisnavas will display theircharacteristic generosity towards me and try to overlookthese deficiencies.- Naimisaranya dasa,Los Angeles,January 1986.INTRODUCTIONRAMANUJA'S PHILOSOPHY OF VISISTADVAITARamanuja is well-known as the great philosopher andacarya of the Sri Vaisnava sampradaya. However, it shouldnot be misunderstood that he was the founder of the SriVaisnavas. Originally started by Laksmidevi Herself, the Srisampradaya contained many exalted devotees prior toRamanuja's appearance to whom he admits his debt in hiswritings. In their expressions of devotion to the SupremeLord, all South Indian devotees were influenced by the nineAlvars, who lived several hundred years before the birth of5