Introduction to Sri Vaisnavism

[Jimano]

Sri Vaisnavism in Northern India

Ramanuja was not only a spiritual leader but also a social reformer who wanted to bring change in the social order. This was met with strong opposition during and after his time and still remains a dream in Tamilnadu.

However, the scenario in North India is different, in regard the 2 sub-sects of Sri Vaisnavism.

Ramananda Sampradaya

Ramananda a follower of Ramanuja, determination to ignore caste discrimintaion led to his break away from the followers of Ramanuja.

With 12 disciples he founded his own sect Ramanandi in Varanasi in the 14th century. He revoke the strict rule on Sanskrit and other caste discriminative practices. While in the South, Sanskrit replaced Tamil, in the North Ramananda replaced Sanskrit with Hindi, and accepted lay members regardless of castes, classes, and creeds.

He soon became a popular religious reformer and teacher. Among his prominent disciples were; Kabir, a Muslim weaver, Tulasi Das, author of Ramcharitmanas, a Hindi rendering of the Ramayana and Meera a lady saint.

The Ramananda Sampradaya currently has the largest number of renunciants (vairagis/sadhus) estimated to be 2 million. This sect is prevalent in Uttar Pradesh, Rajastan, Gujarat, and Nepal

Swami Narayan Sampradaya

Founded by Swami Sahajanand ( Swami Narayan ) in 1801, a follower of Ramananda sect, espousing Ramanuja's Visistadvaita Vedanta. A wealthy group, it is in the forefront of social, rehabilitation and missionary works.

Its followers are numerous in the Gujarati trading communities in Gujarat, Mumbai, and in East Africa, Great Britain and USA.

Tulasi das Hanuman Chalisa performed by members of Temple of Fine Arts - Kuala Lumpur

[Jimano]

Some prominent Sri Vaishnavas (and Institutions)

Unlike in north India, in the south Sri Vaishnavism has been a relatively low keyed and restricted to mutts and temples. There are various factors that had contributed to its stagnation, one being the rigid social structure.

However, there a few individuals who have broken this barrier, reaching out to everyone. Some of these well known personalities based in India are :

Tridandi Chinna Narayana Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamy (Andra Pradesh, India)

The youngest Jeeyar (acharya) in India, who took over the spiritual lineage from his grand father Pedda Jeeyar swami in 1980.

He has established many charitable and educational instituitions and his social work with the tribals in Andra Pradesh is note worthy.

His activities are mainly focussed in Andra Pradesh and also in North America, where theres a substantial Telegu speaking expatriate community.

Chinna Jeeyar website

http://www.chinnajeeyar.org/


D A Joseph (Pondicherry, India)

D A Joseph is Tamil and Sanskrit scholar who conducts lectures on Sri Vaishnavism in various parts in Tamilnadu and Pondicherry.

Apart from his lecture series, he has also released CDs and published books on Vaishnavism.

D A Joseph's website

http://www.dajoseph.com/index.html

D A Joseph appearing on TV

[Badri]

Sri Vaisnavism in Northern India

Ramanuja was not only a spiritual leader but also a social reformer who wanted to bring change in the social order. This was met with strong opposition during and after his time and still remains a dream in Tamilnadu.

However, the scenario in North India is different, in regard the 2 sub-sects of Sri Vaisnavism.

Ramananda Sampradaya

Ramananda a follower of Ramanuja, determination to ignore caste discrimintaion led to his break away from the followers of Ramanuja.

With 12 disciples he founded his own sect Ramanandi in Varanasi in the 14th century. He revoke the strict rule on Sanskrit and other caste discriminative practices. While in the South, Sanskrit replaced Tamil, in the North Ramananda replaced Sanskrit with Hindi, and accepted lay members regardless of castes, classes, and creeds.

He soon became a popular religious reformer and teacher. Among his prominent disciples were; Kabir, a Muslim weaver, Tulasi Das, author of Ramcharitmanas, a Hindi rendering of the Ramayana and Meera a lady saint.

The Ramananda Sampradaya currently has the largest number of renunciants (vairagis/sadhus) estimated to be 2 million. This sect is prevalent in Uttar Pradesh, Rajastan, Gujarat, and Nepal

Swami Narayan Sampradaya

Founded by Swami Sahajanand ( Swami Narayan ) in 1801, a follower of Ramananda sect, espousing Ramanuja's Visistadvaita Vedanta. A wealthy group, it is in the forefront of social, rehabilitation and missionary works.

Its followers are numerous in the Gujarati trading communities in Gujarat, Mumbai, and in East Africa, Great Britain and USA.

Tulasi das Hanuman Chalisa performed by members of Temple of Fine Arts - Kuala Lumpur

Good compilation!

But what about the Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya founded by Krishna Chaitanya in Bengal?

Then there is the Madhva Vaishnava tradition and also the Nimbarka one!

[Jimano]

Good compilation!

But what about the Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya founded by Krishna Chaitanya in Bengal?

The Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradaya is a little complicated.

Chaitanya (16th century) was first initiated by Iswara Puri and later received his sanyasa (monkhood) from Kesava Bharati of the advaita dasanami order (dasa - ten, nami - name).

However, Chaitanya was strongly influenced by Nimbarka (his contemporary) especially in his sentiments to Radha and Krsna worship.

After Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana (18th century), Gaudiya vaisnavas started claiming their lineage to Madhva.

Chaitanya

Chaitanya lived in Sri Rangam for 6 months and incorporated the following 2 doctrines of Sri Vaishavism, into his teachings :

1) The doctrine of unalloyed devotion free from action (karma) and Knowledge (jñana)
2) The doctrine of service to the devotees

Furthermore, one of his close associate, Gopala Bhatta Goswami, was a Sri Vaisnava from Sri Rangam. Gopala Bhatta Goswami's, Hari bhaktivilasa, a liturgical and disciplinary scripture has Sri Vaisnava influence.

Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati

In early 1900's when Chaitanya's vaisnavism was undergoing severe criticism for its deviation. Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati tried to formlise it into an "bonfide" spiritual order (sampradaya).

For this, he spent some time in Sri Perumbudur (Ramanuja's birthplace) studying Sri Vaisnava liturgy especially on matters relating to the sanyasa order. Later, he founded the Gaudiya Mutt (Gaudiya Sampradaya), by formally accepting disciples and sanyasis (monks) .

Although Gaudiya Vaisnavas claim lineage to Madhva, technically, they are closer to Sri Sampradaya.

E.g of some similarities

1) The Achintya-Bheda-Abheda philosophy (inconceivable one and different) seem closer to Ramanuja's visistadvaita (Qualified non-dualism), than to Madhva's dvaita (dualism)

2) Gaudiya sanyasis like Sri Sampradaya sanyasis are Tridandis (triple staff), unlike Madhva's ekadandis (single staff).

3) Like Sri Vaisnavas, Gaudiya vaisnavas also have "dasa" added to their names.

Then there is the Madhva Vaishnava tradition and also the Nimbarka one!

Madhva's theology is totally independent and has no links to Sri vaisnavism. They are mainly confined in Karnataka and isolated parts of Kerala.

Vallabha's sect is confined mainly to small pockets in Rajastan and Gujarat. The Nimbarkas are rarely seen or heard of except in Vrndavan (Uttar Pradesh). Nimbarka and Vallabha, although differing from Ramanuja on some theological and ritualistic aspects, they all have a similar theistic approach.

Perhaps, Nimbarka's theology of Dvaitadvaita (duality in unity) is a variation of Ramanuja's visistadvaita (Qualifed non dualism) ???

Sri Vaisnavism's influence on Sikhism

http://www.sikhspectrum.com/022005/tamil_msa.htm

[harishkumar09]

Some prominent Sri Vaishnavas (and Institutions)

Unlike in north India, in the south Sri Vaishnavism has been a relatively low keyed and restricted to mutts and temples. There are various factors that had contributed to its stagnation, one being the rigid social structure.

However, there a few individuals who have broken this barrier, reaching out to everyone. Some of these well known personalities based in India are :

Tridandi Chinna Narayana Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamy (Andra Pradesh, India)

The youngest Jeeyar (acharya) in India, who took over the spiritual lineage from his grand father Pedda Jeeyar swami in 1980.

He has established many charitable and educational instituitions and his social work with the tribals in Andra Pradesh is note worthy.

His activities are mainly focussed in Andra Pradesh and also in North America, where theres a substantial Telegu speaking expatriate community.

Chinna Jeeyar website

http://www.chinnajeeyar.org/


D A Joseph (Pondicherry, India)

D A Joseph is Tamil and Sanskrit scholar who conducts lectures on Sri Vaishnavism in various parts in Tamilnadu and Pondicherry.

Apart from his lecture series, he has also released CDs and published books on Vaishnavism.

D A Joseph's website

http://www.dajoseph.com/index.html

D A Joseph appearing on TV

I hope this D A Joseph doe snot one day end up claiming that Ramanuja was influenced by Christ . If he si a genuine devotee of Ramanuja and retains his name for cultural reasons , my apologies.

[harishkumar09]

Very good information on Sri Vaishnavism. Please keep it up.

[Jimano]

I hope this D A Joseph doe snot one day end up claiming that Ramanuja was influenced by Christ . If he si a genuine devotee of Ramanuja and retains his name for cultural reasons , my apologies.

D A Joseph is a pakka Iyengar. He belongs to the Vanamamalai Jeeyar Mutt and has retained his Christian identity upon his guru's insistance. This is nothing unsual considering the revolutionary spirit of Ramanuja, who installed an image of a Muslim Princess Bibi Nachiyar in Melkote.

Picture of Joseph with his guru

http://www.dajoseph.com/His-Guru.html

[Jimano]

Sri Vaisnavism outside India

Srirama Ramanujacharya (Sydney, Australia)

Srirama Ramanujacharya was born into orthodox Jewish family in Isreal. He studied Judaism, Christianity and Islam in Jerusalem and his interest in eastern mysticism led him to India. He studied advaita in Rishikesh and Sanskrit in Benares. He spent some time in South India studying Tamil, Sri Vaisnava theology and liturgy as well as astrology and yoga.

Srirama Ramanujacharya was first ordained as a priest in the Sri Vaisnava tradition. Later in 1990, he became the first westerner to be confirmed as Acharya (Spiritual perceptor) by the Jeeyar of Sri Perumbudur.

An engaging and provocative public speaker, he serves as an advisor on Hinduism with the New South Wales state government. Apart from managing his "mutt" (spiritual center) in Sydney he also conducts religious services for the local Hindu community.

Working with yoga and new age groups the acharya conducts spiritual workshops in Australia and America (California). Fluent in Tamil, Sanskrit, Hindi, Arabic and Hebrew, he had translated and written commentaries on Sri Vaisnava literature such as

* Andal's - Tirupavai (Tamil)
* Pillai Lokacharya's - Srivacana Bhusanam (Tamil)
* Ramanuja's - Gita Bhasya (Sanskrit)
* Vishnu sahasranamam (Sanskrit)

2005 write up on the acharya in the Malaysian Star Newspaper

http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/stor...5&sec=features
Sydney Mutt website

http://www.srimatham.com/


Sri Renganathar Temple (Kajang, Malaysia)

Situated in an obscure town in Malaysia, perhaps, this is the only temple in the Asia-Pacific region that follows the pancaratra agama tradition of Sri Vaisnavism.

Administered by Head Priest, Ramanuja Muniandy, the temple caters to the spiritual needs of local Hindus. Apart from religious service, the temple also conducts social and charitable activities.

Temple website

http://srirenganathartemple.org/malaysia/

[harishkumar09]

Better we stop spelling it as "mutt" a spelling popularised by convent educated anti-hindu newspapers editors who had nothing but contempt for hinduism

[NOV]

Sri Renganathar Temple (Kajang, Malaysia)

Situated in an obscure town in Malaysia, perhaps, this is the only temple in the Asia-Pacific region that follows the pancaratra agama tradition of Sri Vaisnavism.

Kajang is not really obscure as it is just on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur.

I dont understand what is pancaratra but there are dozens of perumal temples all over malaysia. but majority of them are thenkalai.

Klang has sundararaja perumal temple - popularly known as south east asia tirupathi. At almost 120 years, its one of the oldest temples here. In 2006, the temple was awarded ISO 9001:2000 certification for its quality sustained contribution in religious, cultural and social service to Hindus. This is probably the first Hindu shrine in the world to receive an international quality service acknowledgement. http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia/oppi.../msg00156.html

Even around where I live there are several perumal temples - Subang Jaya's official temple is sri varadharaja perumal temple.

Puchong nearby has two perumal temples, the large and popular one being sri srinivasa perumal temple.
http://www.srinivasaperumaltemple.blogspot.com/