 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| India,Nepal | |
| Religions | |
| Vaishnavism (Hinduism) | |
| Scriptures | |
| Vedas,Upanishads,Bhagavad Gita,Brahma Sutra,Pancharatra,Prabandham[2][3] | |
| Languages | |
| Tamil,Sanskrit |
Sri Vaishnavism (Sanskrit:श्रीवैष्णवसम्प्रदाय,romanized: Śrīvaiṣṇavasampradāya) is a denomination within theVaishnavism tradition ofHinduism,[4] predominantly practiced inSouth India. The name refers to goddessLakshmi (also known as Sri), as well as a prefix that means "sacred, revered", and the godVishnu, who are together revered in this tradition.[5][6]
The tradition traces its roots to the ancientVedas andPancharatra texts, popularised by theAlvars and their canon, theNaalayira Divya Prabandham.[7][8][9] The founding of Sri Vaishnavism is traditionally attributed toNathamuni of the 10th century CE;[10] its central philosopher has beenRamanuja of the 11th century, who developed theVishishtadvaita ("qualified non-dualism")Vedanta sub-school ofHindu philosophy.[11][12] The tradition split into two denominations around the 16th century. TheVadakalai sect emphasize theVedas and follow the doctrine ofVedanta Desika, whereas theTenkalai sect emphasize theNaalayira Divya Prabandham follow the principles ofManavala Mamunigal.[13][14] TheTelugu Brahmins of the Sri Vaishnava tradition form a single distinct sect called theAndhra Vaishnavas, and are not divided into the Vadakalai and Tenkalai denominations, unlike the TamilIyengars.[15]
The name Sri Vaishnavism (IAST: Śrīvaiṣṇavism) is derived from two words,Sri andVaishnavism. InSanskrit, the wordSri refers to goddess Lakshmi as well as a prefix that means "sacred, revered", and godVishnu who are together revered in this tradition.[4][6] The word Vaishnavism refers to a tradition that reveres god Vishnu as the supreme god.[16] The followers of Sri Vaishnavism are known as the Sri Vaishnava(s) (IAST: Śrīvaiṣṇava, श्रीवैष्णव).[17]
The tradition traces its roots to the primordial start of the world through Vishnu, and to the texts of Vedic era with both Sri and Vishnu found in ancient texts of the 1st millennium BCE particularly to thePuranas,Upanishads, and theBhagavad Gita.[8][14]
The historical basis of Sri Vaishnavism is in the syncretism of two developments. The first is Sanskrit traditions found in ancient texts such as the Vedas and theAgama (Pancaratra, Vaikhanasa), and the second is the Tamil traditions found in early medieval texts (Tamil Prabandham)[18] and practices such as the emotional songs and music ofAlvars that expressed spiritual ideas, ethics and loving devotion to god Vishnu.[19][8][9] The Sanskrit traditions likely represent the ideas shared in ancient times, from theGanges river plains of the northern Indian subcontinent, while the Tamil traditions likely have roots in theKaveri river plains of southern India, particularly what in modern times are the coastalAndhra Pradesh,Karnataka andTamil Nadu region.[20]
The tradition was founded byNathamuni (10th century), who combined the two traditions, by drawing on Sanskrit philosophical tradition and combining it with the aesthetic and emotional appeal of theBhakti movement pioneers called theAlvars.[10] Sri Vaishnavism developed in Tamil Nadu in the 10th century, after Nathamuni returned from a pilgrimage toVrindavan in north India (modernUttar Pradesh).[19]
Nathamuni's ideas were continued byYamunacharya, who maintained that the Vedas and Pancaratras are equal, devotional rituals and bhakti are important practices.[10] The legacy of Yamunacharya was continued byRamanuja (1017-1137),[21] but they never met.[22] Legend goes that Ramanuja saw Yamunacharya's corpse, which had three fingers curled. Ramanuja was told that they represented the three wishes that Yamunacharya had revealed before he passed. One of the wishes was that Ramanuja should write a commentary on the Brahma Sutras.[23] Ramanuja, a scholar who studied in anAdvaita Vedanta monastery and disagreed with some of the ideas of Advaita, became the most influential leader of Sri Vaishnavism.[24][25] He developed theVisistadvaita ("qualified non-dualism") philosophy.[10]
Around 14th century,Ramanandi Sampradaya split from it.[26][27] Around the 18th century, the Sri Vaishnava tradition split into theVadakalai ("northern culture", Vedic) andTenkalai ("southern culture", Bhakti).[13][14] TheVadakalai placed more emphasis on the Sanskrit traditions, while theTenkalai relied more on the Tamil traditions.[28] This theological dispute between the Vedic and Bhakti traditions traces it roots to the debate betweenSrirangam andKanchipuram monasteries between the 13th and 15th century.[13] The debate then was on the nature of salvation and the role of grace. The Bhakti-favouring Tenkalai tradition asserted, states Patricia Mumme, that Vishnu saves the soul like "a mother cat carries her kitten", where the kitten just accepts the mother while she picks her up and carries.[13] In contrast the Karma-favouring Vadakalai tradition asserted that Vishnu saves the soul like "a mother monkey carries her baby", where the baby has to make an effort and hold on while the mother carries.[13] This metaphorical description of the disagreement between the two sub-traditions, first appears in the 18th-century Tamil texts, but historically refers to the foundational ideas behind thekarma-marga versusbhakti-marga traditions of Hinduism.[29]
Along with Vishnu, and likeShaivism, the ultimate reality and truth is considered in Sri Vaishnavism to be the divine sharing of the feminine and the masculine, the goddess and the god.[30] Sri (Lakshmi) is regarded as the preceptor of the Sri Vaishnava sampradaya. Goddess Sri has been considered inseparable from godVishnu, and essential to each other, and to the act of mutual loving devotion. Sri and Vishnu act and cooperate in the creation of everything that exists, and redemption.[30] According to some medieval scholars of Sri Vaishnava theology, states John Carman, Sri and Vishnu do so using "divine knowledge that is unsurpassed" and through "love that is an erotic union".[30] But Sri Vaishnavism differs from Shaivism, in that Vishnu is ultimately the sole creator, preserver and destroyer of the universe while Sri Lakshmi is the medium for salvation, the kind mother who recommends to Vishnu and thereby helps living beings in their desire for redemption and salvation.[30] In contrast, in Shaivism, the goddess (Shakti) is the energy and power of Shiva and she is the equal with different roles, supreme in the role of creator and destroyer.[31]
The prefixSri is used for this sect because they give special importance to the worship of the Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu, who they believe to act as a mediator between God Vishnu and man.[30][32]
Sri Vaishnavism's philosophical foundation was established by Ramanuja, who started his Vedic studies withYadava Prakaasa in an Advaita Vedanta monastery.[24] Ramanuja brought Upanishadic ideas to this tradition, and wrote texts on qualifiedmonism, calledVishishtadvaita in the Hindu tradition.[33][34] His ideas are one of three subschools inVedanta, the other two are known asAdi Shankara's Advaita (absolute monism) andMadhvacharya'sDvaita (dualism).[33]
Vishishtadvaita asserts thatAtman (souls) andBrahman[note 1] are different, a difference that is never transcended.[35][36] God Vishnu alone is independent, all other gods and beings are dependent on him.[37] However, in contrast to Dvaita Vedanta philosophy of Madhvacharya, Ramanuja asserts "qualified non-dualism",[38] that souls share the same essential nature of Brahman,[38] and that there is a universal sameness in the quality and degree of bliss possible for human souls, and every soul can reach the bliss state of God himself.[35][39] While the 13th- to 14th-century Madhvacharya asserted both "qualitative and quantitative pluralism of souls", Ramanuja asserted "qualitative monism and quantitative pluralism of souls", states Sharma.[40] The other philosophical difference between Madhvacharya's Vaishnavism Sampradaya and Ramanuja's Vaishnavism Sampradaya,[note 2] has been on the idea of eternal damnation; Madhvacharya believed that some souls are eternally doomed and damned, while Ramanuja disagreed and accepted the Advaita Vedanta view that everyone can, with effort, achieve inner liberation and spiritual freedom (moksha).[42][43]
Theology
According to Sri Vaishnavism theology,moksha can be reached by devotion and service to the Lord and detachment from the world. Whenmoksha is reached, the cycle of reincarnation is broken and the soul is united with Vishnu, though maintaining their distinctions, inVaikuntha, Vishnu's heaven.[45] Moksha can also be reached by total surrender (saranagati), an act of grace by the Lord.[46]
God, according to Ramanuja's Sri Vaishnavism philosophy, has both soul and body; all of life and the world of matter is the glory of God's body.[25] The path to Brahman (Vishnu), asserted Ramanuja, is devotion to godliness and constant remembrance of the beauty and love of personal god (saguna Brahman, Vishnu).[25][34][47] Ramanuja's theory posits both Brahman and the world of matter are two different absolutes, both metaphysically real, neither one false or illusive, andsaguna Brahman with attributes is also real.[34]
Ramanuja accepted that theVedas are a reliable source of knowledge, then critiqued other schools of Hindu philosophy, includingAdvaita Vedanta, as having failed in interpreting all of the Vedic texts.[48] He asserted, in hisSri Bhashya, thatpurvapaksin (previous schools) selectively interpret thoseUpanishadic passages that support their monistic interpretation, and ignore those passages that support the pluralism interpretation.[48] There is no reason, stated Ramanuja, to prefer one part of a scripture and not other, the whole of the scripture must be considered on par.[48][49] One cannot, according to Ramanuja, attempt to give interpretations of isolated portions of any scripture. Rather, the scripture must be considered one integrated corpus, expressing a consistent doctrine.[48] The Vedic literature, asserted Ramanuja, mention both plurality and oneness, therefore the truth must incorporate pluralism and monism, or qualified monism.[48]
This method of scripture interpretation distinguishes Ramanuja from Adi Shankara.[49] Shankara's exegetical approachSamanvayat Tatparya Linga withAnvaya-Vyatireka,[50] states that for proper understanding all texts must be examined in their entirety and then their intent established by six characteristics, which includes studying what is stated by the author to be his goal, what he repeats in his explanation, then what he states as conclusion and whether it can beepistemically verified.[51][52] Not everything in any text, states Shankara, has equal weight and some ideas are the essence of any expert's textual testimony.[49] This philosophical difference in scriptural studies, helped Shankara conclude that thePrincipal Upanishads primarily teach monism with teachings such asTat tvam asi, while helping Ramanuja conclude that qualified monism is at the foundation of Hindu spirituality.[48][53][54]
John Carman, a professor at theHarvard Divinity School, states that some of the similarities insalvation ideas in Sri Vaishnavism and Protestant Christian doctrines of divine grace are striking.[55] Both accept God as a personal concept, accept devotee's ability to relate to this God without human intermediaries, and accept the idea ofsola gratia – salvation through faith by the grace of God alone, such as those found inMartin Luther's teachings.[55] While both Sri Vaishnavism andProtestant Christianity accept a supreme God and shares ideas on the nature of salvation, they differ in their specifics aboutincarnation such asJesus Christ being the only incarnation in Christianity, while Sri Vaishnavism accepts many incarnations (avatar) of Vishnu.[56] Christian missionaries in 19th century colonial British India, noted the many similarities and attempted to express the theology of Christianity as abhakti marga to Hindus, along the lines of Sri Vaishnavism, in their mission to convert them from Hinduism to Christianity.[57]
Similar teachings on the nature of salvation through grace and compassion, adds Carman, are found in the Japanese scholar Shinran's text on Jodo Shinshu sect of Buddhism, even though non-theisticBuddhism and theistic Sri Vaishnavism do differ in their views on God.[55] Similarly,Pure Land Buddhists also maintain a desire to be reborn in the highest heaven where one may learn the purest form of moksha from buddhas and bodhisattvas such asAvalokiteśvara; this reflects the desire of all Vaishnava to be born in Vaikuntha where the highest form of meditation on Narayana occurs.
Sri Vaishnavism philosophy is primarily based on interpretingVedanta, particularly theUpanishads, theBhagavad Gita, theBrahma Sutras and the Narayaniya section of theMahabharata.[8][58] The Vaishnava Agama texts, also called the Pancaratra, has been an important part of Sri Vaishnava tradition.[10][59] Another theological textual foundation of the tradition are the Tamilbhakti songs of the Alvars (7th to 10th century).[12] The syncretic fusion of the two textual traditions is sometimes referred to as theUbhaya Vedanta, or dual Vedanta.[12] The relative emphasis between the two has been a historic debate within the Sri Vaishnavism tradition,[2] which ultimately led to the schism into the Vatakalai and Tenkalai sub-traditions around the 18th century.[13][14]
Nathamuni collected the poems ofNammalvar, in the form ofDivya Prabandham, likely in the 9th century CE,[60] or the 10th century.[10] One of his lasting contributions was to apply the Vedic theory of music on all the Alvar songs usingSanskrit prosody, calling the resulting choreography as divine music, and teaching his nephews the art of resonant bhakti singing of the Alvar songs.[60] This precedence set theguru-śiṣya-parampara (teacher-student-tradition) in Sri Vaishnavism.[61] This style of education from one generation to the next, is a tradition calledAraiyars, states Guy Beck, which preserved "the art of singing and dancing the verses of the Divya Prabandham" set in thesacred melodies and rhythms described in the Vedic texts.[61]
Nathamuni's efforts to syncretically combine the Vedic knowledge and Alvar compositions, also set the precedence of reverence for both the Vedas and the Alvar bhakti ideas. Nathamuni's scholarship that set Alvar songs in Vedic meter set a historic momentum, and the liturgical and meditational songs continue to be sung in the modern era temples of Sri Vaishnavism, which is part of the service calledcevai (Sanskrit:Seva).[60][62]
Nathamuni is also attributed with three texts, all in Sanskrit.[60] These areNyaya Tattva,Purusha Nirnaya andYogarahasya.[63] TheYogarahasya text, states Govindacharya, is a meditational text, includes the eight limbyoga similar to that of Patanjali, but emphasizes yoga as "the art of communion with God".[63] TheNyaya Tattva text survives only in quotes and references cited in other texts, and these suggest that it presented epistemic foundations (Nyaya) including the philosophical basis for the Hindu belief on the existence of "soul" (Atman), in contrast to Indian philosophies such as Buddhism that denied the existence of soul.[64][65] Nathamuni, for example asserts,
If "I" did not refer to the true self, there would be no interiority belonging to the soul. The interior is distinguished from the exterior by the concept "I". The aspiration, "May I, having abandoned all suffering, participate freely in infinite bliss", actuates a person whose goal is liberation to study scriptures etc. Were it thought that liberation involved the destruction of the individual, he would run away as soon as the subject of liberation was suggested... The "I", the knowing subject, is the inner self.
—Nyayatattva, Nathamuni, ~9th-10th century, Translator: Christopher Bartley[65]
Yamunacharya was the grandson ofNathamuni, also known in Sri Vaishnava tradition as Alavandar, whose scholarship is remembered for correlating Alvar bhakti theology and Pancaratra Agama texts to Vedic ideas.[66] He was theacharya (chief teacher) of Sri Vaishnavism monastery at Srirangam, and was followed byRamanuja, even though they never met.[22] Yamunacharya composed a number of works important in Sri Vaishnavism, particularlySiddhitrayam (about the nature of Atman, God, universe),Gitarthasangraha (analysis of theBhagavad Gita), Agamapramanya (epistemological basis of Agamas, mapping them to the Vedas),Maha Purushanirnayam (extension of Nathamuni's treatise),Stotraratnam andChathuh shloki (bhaktistrota texts).[66]
Yamunacharya is also credited withNitya Grantha andMayavada Khandana. TheNitya Grantha is a ritual text and suggests methods of daily worship ofNarayana (Vishnu).[67] The 10th centuryMayavada Khandana text, together withSiddhitrayam of Yamunacharya predominantly critiques the philosophy of the traditionally dominant school ofAdvaita Vedanta inHindu philosophy, but also critiques non-Vedic traditions.[68]
The Sri Vaishnava tradition attributes nine Sanskrit texts to Ramanuja[69] –Vedarthasamgraha (literally, "Summary of the Vedas meaning"[note 3])Sri Bhasya (a review and commentary on theBrahma Sutras),Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (a review and commentary on theBhagavad Gita), and the minor works titledVedantadipa,Vedantasara,Gadya Traya (which is a compilation of three texts called theSharanagati Gadyam,Sriranga Gadyam and theVaikuntha Gadyam), andNitya Grantham.
Some modern scholars have questioned the authenticity of all but the three of the largest works credited to Ramanuja; the following texts are considered as authentically traceable to Ramanuja –ShriBhashya,Vedarthasamgraha, and theBhagavad Gita Bhashya.[69][71]
Ramanuja's scholarship is predominantly founded on Vedanta, Upanishads in particular.[70][72] He never claims that his ideas were original, but his method of synthesis that combined the Vedic ideas with popular spirituality, states Anne Overzee, is original.[72] Ramanuja, wrote his biographer Ramakrishnananda, was "the culmination of the movement started from the Vedas, nourished by the Alvars, Nathamuni and Yamuncharya".[72]
Ramunaja himself credits the theories he presents, inVedarthasamgraha, to the ideas of ancient Hindu scholars such as "Bodhyana, Tanka (Brahmanandin), Dramida (Dravidacarya), Guhadeva, Kapardin and Bharuci".[72][73][note 4] The 11th-century scholarship of Ramanuja emphasized the concept ofSarira-Saririn, that is the world of matter and the empirical reality of living beings is the "body ofBrahman",[note 5] everything observed is God, one lives in this body of God, and the purpose of this body and all of creation is to empower soul in its journey to liberating salvation.[75][76]
AfterRamanuja several authors composed important theological and exegetical works on Sri Vaishnavism. Such authors includeParsara Bhattar, Nadadoor Ammal, Sudarshan Suri,Pillai Lokacharya,Vedanta Desika,Manavala Mamunigal, Periyavachan Pillai and Rangaramanuja Muni.[77][78][79][80]
The Sri Vaishnavism tradition has nurtured an institutional organization ofmathas (monasteries) since its earliest days, particularly from the time of Ramanuja. After the death of Yamunacharya, Ramanuja was nominated as the leader of the Srirangam matha, though Yamunacharya and Ramanuja never met.[22] Amongst other things, Ramanuja is remembered in the Sri Vaishnavism tradition for his organizational skills and the lasting institutional reforms he introduced at Srirangam, a system paralleling those at Advaita monasteries of his time and where he studied before joining Srirangam matha. Ramanuja travelled and founded many Sri Vaishnavismmathas across India, such as the one inMelukote.[81][82] The Sri Vaishnavism tradition believes that Ramanuja started 700 mathas, but historical evidence suggests several of these were started later.[83]
_Vellai_Gopuram_of_Hindu_temple_Sri_Ranganathaswamy_Srirangam_Thiruvarangam_Tiruchirapalli_India_2014.jpg)
Thematha, or a monastery, hosted numerous students, many teachers and an institutionalized structure to help sustain and maintain its daily operations. Amatha in Vaishnvaism and other Hindu traditions, like a college, designates teaching, administrative and community interaction functions, with prefix or suffix to names, with titles such asGuru,Acharya,Swami, andJiyar.[85]
AGuru is someone who is a "teacher, guide or master" of certain knowledge.[86] Traditionally a reverential figure to the student in Hinduism, theguru serves as a "counselor, who helps mold values, shares experiential knowledge as much as literal knowledge, an exemplar in life, an inspirational source and who helps in the spiritual evolution of a student."[87]
AnAcharya refers to either a Guru of high rank, or more often to the leader of a regional monastery.[88][89] This position typically involves a ceremonial initiation calleddiksha by the monastery, where the earlier leader anoints the successor asAcharya.[88][90] ASwami is usually those who interact with community on the behalf of thematha. The chief and most revered of all Vaishnava monasteries, are titled asJeer,Jiyar,Jeeyar, orCiyar.[83]
The Sri Vaishnavism mathas, over time, divided into two, those with Tenkalai (southern) tradition and Vadakalai (northern) tradition of Sri Vaishnavism.[91] The Tenkalai-associated mathas are headquartered at Srirangam, while Vadakalai mathas are associated with Kanchipuram. Both these traditions have from 10th-century onwards considered the function ofmathas to include feeding the poor and devotees who visit, hosting marriages and community festivals, farming temple lands and flower gardens as a source for food and worship ingredients, being open to pilgrims as rest houses, and this philanthropic role of these Hindu monasteries continues.[92] In the 15th-century, these monasteries expanded by establishingRamanuja-kuta in major South Indian Sri Vaishnavism locations.[92] The organizationally important Sri Vaishnavismmatha are:
The Sri Vaishnava tradition is classified into two major denominations called theVadakalai ("northern art") andTenkalai ("southern art").[28][94] The northern and southern denominations of Sri Vaishnavism refer respectively toKanchipuram (the northern part of Tamil country) andSrirangam (the southern part of Tamil country andKaveri river delta area whereRamanuja wrote hisVedanta treatises from).[13][14][95] These denominations arose as a result of philosophical and theological divergences in the post-Ramanuja period.
TheVadakalai placed emphasis on theVedas in its system of worship, while theTenkalai highlighted theNaalayira Divya Prabandham of theAlvars.[28][96] Both generally follow the principles of thePancharatra Agamas for their domestic rituals (like pancha-samskara initiation) and temple worship, but the specific Agama (Pancharatra orVaikhanasa) followed can vary by temple.[97]
The philosophies of Pillai Lokacharya and Vedanta Desika, which evolved consequently, were stabilized by Manavala Mamunigal and Brahmatantra Svatantra Jiyar respectively. When the schism weakened, Vadakalai tradition split into Munitreyam,Ahobila Matha, andParakala matha. Similarly, Tenkalai tradition split into Kandadais,Telugu Sri Vaishnavas, Soliyar, and Sikkiliyar.[93]
From the ancient period, the Sri Vaishnavism movement flourished inTamilakam owing to its social inclusiveness, where devotion to the supreme deity (Vishnu) was open without limitation to gender or caste, a tradition led byAlvars in the 7th and the 8th centuries.[98][99] Ramanuja philosophy negated caste, states Ramaswamy.[100] Ramanuja, who led from the Srirangam temple, welcomed outcastes into temples and gave them important roles in temple duties. Medieval temple records and inscriptions suggest that the payments and offerings collected by the temple were shared regardless of caste distinctions.[101]
Scholars offer differing views on the relative approach of the two denominations on caste and gender. Raman states that Tenkalai did not recognise caste barriers and were more liberal in assimilating people from all castes, possibly because this had been the tradition at Srirangam from the earliest days of Sri Vaishnavism.[101] In contrast, Sadarangani states that it was Vadakalai who were more liberal and who did not recognise caste barriers, possibly because they were competing with the egalitarian Virashaiva Hindus (Lingayatism) of Karnataka.[102] Both sects believe in initiation throughPancha Samskara.[103] This ceremony or rite of passage is necessary for one to become a Vaishnava. It is performed by both Brahmins and non-Brahmins in order to become Vaishnavas.[104] Some non-Brahmin Vaishnavas include TeluguNaidu, TamilVanniyar andNamadhari.[105] Only those Vaishnavas who are of brahmin caste call themselves as Sri Vaishnavas.[106]
Both Vadakalai and Tenkalai Brahmins perform the same Vedic saṃskāras (upanayanam, yajñopavīta, śrāddha, etc.). Neither has ever abandoned the SanskritVedas or theDivya Prabandham. The difference lies in how much Sanskrit recitation and commentary is foregrounded in daily life and temple ritual, not in adherence to Vedic authority itself.[107][108]
In worship, the Vadakalai school foregrounds Sanskrit study and Dharmaśāstra observance, while the Tenkalai school foregrounds the TamilDivya Prabandham, as an equally sacred expression of Vedic revelation. Both traditions are fully rooted in Vedic and Smṛti foundations.[109][110]
The Tenkalai tradition brought into their fold artisanal castes into community-based devotional movements. Raman states, "it can almost be said that the Tenkalai represented the anti-caste tendencies while the Vadakalai school championed the cause of purity of the Vedic tenets."[101] The Tenkalai held, adds Raman, that anyone can be a spiritual teacher regardless of caste.[101]
The Vadakalai tradition states Sadarangani in contrast to Raman's views, were the liberal cousin of Tenkalai and therefore more successful in gaining devotees, while in southern Tamil lands Shaivism prospered possibly because of "Tenkalai school of Vaishnavism being narrow and orthodox in approach".[102] The Vadakalai school not only succeeded in northern Tamil lands, she adds, but spread widely as it inspired theBhakti movement in north, west and east India, bringing in Bhakti poet saints from "entire cross-section of class, caste and society".[102]
TheRanganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam belongs to the Tenkalai/Thennacharya tradition and is considered as the foremost site of the Sri Vaishnava tradition. All the functionaries and priests are the descendants of the 74 disciples appointed by Ramanuja and belong to the Tenkalai line without any exceptions.[111]
InSanskrit, the Tenkalai tradition is referred to asDakshina Kalārya.[112]
The Tenkalai place higher importance toTamil slokas than Sanskrit, and lay more emphasis on the worship ofVishnu. The Tenkalai acceptprapatti as the only means to attain salvation.[113] They consider Prapatti as an unconditional surrender.[114] The Thenkalais assert primacy to worship through thePrabandham,[115][116] while holding the Vedas in equal esteem. They regardkaivalya (detachment, isolation) as an eternal position within the realm ofVaikuntha (Vishnu's 'eternal abode' or heaven), though it only exists at the outer most regions of Vaikuntha. They further say that God's seemingly contradictory nature as both minuscule and immense are examples of God's special powers that enable Him to accomplish the impossible.
According to the Tenkalai tradition, spiritually exalted individuals are not obligated to perform rituals such asSandhyavandanam, as their liberation is already assured. However, they still observe these duties to set a moral example for others, while all otherBrahmins are required to perform them. They don't allow the ringing of bells during worship. The Tenkalai forbid widows to shave (tonsure) their head, quoting the Parashara Smriti.[117] while Vadakalais support the tonsure quoting the Manusmriti.[118]
The Tenkalai trace their lineage toMudaliyandan, nephew of Ramanuja[119] The Tenkalai are followers of the philosophy ofPillai Lokacharya,Ramanuja, andManavala Mamuni,[120][121] who is considered to be the reincarnation ofRamanuja by the Tenkalai.[note 6]
Many of the main preceptors of Sri Vaishnavism and their descendants, before and afterRamanuja, belong to the Tenkalai denomination.
The Vadakalai are followers ofRamanuja andVedanta Desika,[133][134][135] who is the most important acharya of the Vadakalai sampradaya[136] that foregrounds the recitation of Sanskrit Vedas.[137] They lay more emphasis on the role ofLakshmi i.e. Sri, and uphold SanskritVedas as the ultimate "Pramanam" or authority, although Ubhaya Vedanta[note 8] is used to infer from and establish the doctrine ofVishishtadvaita. The Vadakalai infer that all of the Alvars compositions are derived from theVedas, and believe that the latter is the ultimate source to reference and defend the doctrine. The Vadakalai lay emphasis on Vedic norms[note 9], while holding theDivya Prabandham in equal esteem.
The Vadakalai follow theSanskritVedas,[115] and the set of rules prescribed by theManusmriti andDharma Shastras.[138][139] In Sanskrit the Vadakalai are referred to asUttara Kalārya.[140]
Traditionally, the Vadakalai believe in practisingKarma yoga,Jnana yoga andBhakti yoga, along withPrapatti, as means to attain salvation.[141][142] Also, they consider Prapatti as an act of winning grace.[114]
Thetilaka (urdhva pundra) mark of the Vadakalai men is a symbolic representation ofVishnu's right foot. Since Vishnu's right foot is believed to be the origin of the riverGanga, the Vadakalai contend that his right foot should be held in special veneration, and its sign impressed on the forehead. They also apply a central mark (sricharanam) to symbolise the goddessLakshmi (Vishnu's wife), along with the tiruman (urdhva pundra).[143] The Urdhva Pundra that is vertical and faces upwards denotes that it helps one in reachingVaikuntha (the spiritual abode of Vishnu), and is also considered to be a warder of evil. Vadakalai women apply a red central mark along with namam only, symbolising Lakshmi seated on a lotus on their foreheads.
TheVadakalai sect traces its lineage back to Thirukurahi Piran Pillan, Kidambi Acchan and other direct disciples of Ramanuja, and considersVedanta Desika to be the greatest Acharya of the postRamanuja era.[133][144][145]
The Vadakalai community consists of the following groups, based on the sampradaya followed:
Traditionally, places of high importance with significant Vadakalai populations includedKanchipuram,Kumbakonam,Tiruvallur,Mysore andKurnool district.[140][155][156][157][158][159] However, today much of the people have moved to the big cities.
InVrindavan, the Jankivallabh Mandir of Keshighat is a prominent Vadakalai Sri Vaishnava monastic institution and is associated with the spiritual lineage of the Ahobila Mutt. The present Azhagiya Singar has visited this well known institution in the past as well as recently. It is presently headed by Swami Sri Aniruddhacharyaji Maharaj.
InRajasthan the Jhalariya Mutt is one of the most prominent Mutts and its branches have spread over to the neighbouring regions ofGujarat andMaharashtra. Sri Swami Balmukundacharyaji was a distinguished scholar and renowned Acharya of this Mutt.
The Sri Vaishnavas among the Telingana Brahmans form a distinct caste called Andhra Vaishnava. They are not sub-divided as Vadgala and Tengala like their co-religionists of Dravida
Quote: In this context, 'north' refers to the northern region of theTamilcountry with its capital at Kanchipuram (a historical seat of Sanskrit learning) and 'south' refers to theKaveri delta with its capital at Srirangam - one of the sacred bastions of Tamil culture."
Tirukkachchi Nambi and Pillai Uranga Villi Dasar, great names in Sri Vaishnava tradition, cannot be called Sri Vaishnavas because they were not Brahmins.
