Sri Ramanujacharya (1017 CE – 1137 CE) was an Indic philosopher with seminal contributions to Hindu traditions. He s one of the primary exponents of the Sri Vaishnava tradition within Hindusim.
Sri Ramanujacharya was born in Sriperambudur, near present day Chennai. As part of his theological journey, he continued the inclusive and reformative Sri Vaishnava tradition that believes in a personalised God whose grace extends to everyone. God takes the form of Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi in the Sri Vaishnava tradition.
Sri Ramanujacharya spent most of his life in Srirangam and expounded his philosophy within the Vedanta school of Hindu Philosophy. His inclusive views continued the Sri Vaishnava tradition that progress depended not on accidents of birth, but spiritual knowledge and practice. Sri Ramujacharya himself was an exemplary social reformer whose actions were inspired by age-old Hindu philosophies.
Sri Ramanujacharya was a prolific writer and authored books like the Vedartha Samagraha (Summary of the Meaning of the Vedas), commentaries on the Brahmasutras and the Bhagvad Gita, and several other works expounding Hindu Philosophy. He also set up a huge network of temples and centres of philosophical study throughout India.
His birthplace now hosts a temple and a school of philosophy. His doctrines continue to invigorate the Hindu tradition of inquiry while his theology continues to inspire several temples of the Sri Vaishnava school.
