Visishtadvaita literally means “Advaita with uniqueness/qualifications”. According to this philosophy, Jivatma and Paramatma are different, yet not different. Jivatma is the body and Paramatma is the soul. The soul is different from the body. This way, the Paramatma is different from Jivatma. They are not different because of the body-soul relationship.
There are 3 key principles of Visishtadvaita:
1. Tathva: The knowledge of 3 real entities namely, Jiva (the sentinent), Jagat (the insentinent) and Ishvara.
2. Hitha: The means of realization i.e through Bhakti (devotion) and Prapatti (self-surrender)
3. Purushartha: The goal to be attained i.e moksha or liberation from bondage.
Bhagavat Ramanuja Yatiraaja (who was born as an incarnation of Aadhi Sesha at Shree Perumbudhur nearly 1000 years ago) re-established Visishtadvaita philosophy. The divine wealth of our Visishtadvaita has been protected and handed over to us by an unbroken succession of our Sree Vaishnava Guru Parampara:
The lineage is as follows:
1. srIman nArAyaNa (Lord ranganAtha)
2. srI ranganAyakith thAyAr
3. srI viSvaksEna
4. srI nammAzhvAr (srI saTakOpa)
5. srIman nAdha muni
6. srI puNdarIkAkshar (srI uyyakkoNdAr)
7. srI rAma miShra (srI maNakkAl nambi)
8. srIman yAmuna muni (srI AlavandhAr)
9. srI mahApUrNa (srI periya nambi)
10. srI rAmAnuja (emperumAnAr)
11. srI embAr (srI gOvinda bhattar)
12. srI parAsara bhattar (11a. srI kUrattAzhvAn)
13. srI nanjIyar
14. srI nampiLLai
15. srI vadakku-th-thiruveedhip piLLai
16. srI piLLai lOkAchAriAr (15b. srI periyavAchchAn piLLai)
17. srI thiruvAymozhip piLLai
18. srI maNavALa mAmunigaL
19. back to Lord ranganAtha
Shree Varadaraja Swamy, Lord of Kancheepuram, cleared the doubts of Sri Ramanuja through Thiru Kachi Nambi who was at his service and with whom the Lord used to talk. The Lord told 6 statements in a precise manner to explain our Visishtadvaita philosophy. These statements are:
1. Ahameva Param Tatvam – means Shreeman Narayana is the Supremet Self, who is unparalled and unsurpassed.
2. Darsanam Bhedam Eva Cha- The philosophical system is based on the natural difference between insentinent, sentinent and the Supreme Lord – The Lord has all the insentinent and sentinent entities as His body and He is the soul of every thing.
3. Upayeshu Prapatisyaat – The way to get salvation is surrendering to the feet of the Lord.
4. Anitma Smruthi Varjanam – There is no need to adopt contemplation on the Lord during our final breath
5. Dehaavasaane Muktisyaat – After the soul departs from the material body, it gets salvation in case he/she has adopted the means of surrender.
The soul on getting salvation reaches Paramapadam and eternally serves the Lord with ultimate and ifinite bliss.
6. Poonaachaaryam Samaasraya – one should approach a fully qualified Shree Vaishnava preceptor and get enlightened
