Welcome to the Ramanuja Society Home Page, dedicated to Sri Vaishnavism, one of the preeminent religious traditions of Hinduism. Over its long history, Sri Vaishnavism has influenced nearly every aspect of Indian religious life.
Sri Vaishnavism is a multifaceted tradition that has both popular and philosophical aspects. These pages attempt to present a glimpse into a few sides of this religion — its vibrant temple culture, the philosophical love poetry of the Alvar saints, the Vedanta discourses of the Upanishadic sages, the penetrating insight of the acharyas — all culminating in the grand philosophy of Visishtadvaita.
Visishtadvaita is the system of thought embodied by the Vedanta, the philosophical portion of the Vedas, India’s ancient scriptures. The central idea of Visishtadvaita is this: there exists an Ultimate Principle, an Absolute Being that is the source and substratum of all that exists. This immanent spirit is the inner guide and controller of the whole universe with all its diverse animate and inanimate elements. Communion with this gracious, omnipotent Supreme Being constitutes the supreme end of existence. Such communion is attainable exclusively through self-surrender and undivided, loving meditation.