Statue of Ramanujacharya

In Context 

• The PM will unveil a 216-foot statue of Ramanujacharya, described as the ‘Statue of Equality’ in Hyderabad on February 5.

 About 

• It is being installed to mark the 1,000th birth anniversary of  Ramanujacharya. 
• It was built of panchaloha, a combination of gold, silver, copper, brass and zinc, by the Aerospun Corporation in China and shipped to India. 
• The ?1,000-crore project was funded entirely by donations from devotees globally.

About Ramanujacharya

• Birth: Born in 1017 at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu.
• He is revered worldwide as a Vedic philosopher, social reformer and one of the most important exponents of Sri Vaishnava tradition.

Image courtesy:DNA

The role played by him 

• As a spiritual revolutionary: Brought the treasure of Vedic literature to the doorsteps of the common man.
  • Advocated the philosophy of Visishtadvaita, qualified monism.
    • Vishishtadvaita, also known as trained non-dualism, is one of the major branches of Vedanta.
    • It is a school of Vedanta philosophy that believes in all the diversity that underlies unity.
      • This school developed from the 7th century to the Vaishnava revolution in the southern part of India
  • Dispelled by the Mayavada concept, the world is illusionary.
  • Became the preceptor of the Bhakti movement and the source for all other Bhakti Schools of thought.
  • Was an inspiration for mystic poets like Kabir, Meerabai, Annamacharya, Bhakta Ramdas, Thyagaraja and many others.
• As An Erudite Scholar: He wrote 9 scriptures, the Navrathnas.
  • Vedartha-Sangraha – A treatise presenting the tenets of Visishtadvaita, a reconciliation of different conflicting srutis.
  • Sri Bhashya – A detailed commentary on the Vedanta Sutras. Sri Bhashyam is Sri Ramanuja’s magnum opus, which is the greatest commentary on Bramha Sutras.
  • Gita-Bhasya – A detailed commentary on the Bhagavad-Gita.
  • Vedanta-Dipa – A brief commentary on the Vedanta Sutras.
  • Vedanta-Sara – Another brief commentary on the Vedanta Sutras meant for beginners.
  • Saranagati-Gadya – A prayer of complete surrender to the lotus feet of Lord Srimannarayana.
  • Sriranga-Gadya – Manuals of self-surrender to Lord Vishnu.
  • Shri Vaikuntha-Gadya – Describes Shri Vaikuntha-Loka and the position of the liberated souls.
  • Nitya-Grantha – A short manual intended to guide the devotees about day to day worship and activities.

• As a Social Reformer: He dedicated His entire life to reformism and left no stone unturned in dispelling darkness from the minds and lives of people. 
  • Bridged the gap between literate and illiterate, rulers and the ruled.
  • Gave impetus to the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the Universe as One Family.
  • He embraced the untouchables and treated them on par with the elite. 
  • He liberated millions from social, cultural, gender, educational, and economic discrimination with the foundational conviction that every human is equal regardless of nationality, gender, race, caste, or creed. 
  • He opened the doors of temples to all people, including those subjected to extreme discrimination. 
  • He remains a timeless icon of equality for social reformists around the world.
  • He established the correct procedures for rituals performed in temples throughout India, the most famous being Tirumala and Srirangam

•  Death: At Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam (Tamil Nadu) in 1137 CE.

Source:TH