Sri Bhasya

The Sri Bhasya (श्रीभाष्य) is the most famous work of the Hindu philosopher Ramanuja (1017–1137). It is his commentary on Badarayana’s Vedanta/Brahma Sutra.

Description

In his commentary, Ramanuja presents the fundamental philosophical principles of Vishishtadvaita based on his interpretation of the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita and other Smriti texts, the previous acharyas, and the Vedanta-sutra itself. This is done by way of refuting Shankara’s Advaita Vedanta and in particular his theory of maya. In this work, he describes the three categories of reality (tattvas): God, soul, and matter, which have been used by the later Vaishnava theologians such as Madhva. He explains the relationship between the body and the soul. The principles of bhakti as a means to liberation (moksha) were also developed. Ramanuja wrote the Vedanta-Dipa and Vedanta-Sara to aid in the overall understanding of the Sri Bhasya.

Sources

  • Hajime Nakamura and Trevor Leggett, A History of Early Vedānta Philosophy, Vol 2, New Delhi, Motilal Banarsidass (1983)
  • Advaita Ashrama (2003). Brahma-Sutras According to Sri Ramanuja. ISBN: 81-7505-006-3
  • Overview of Sribhashya by S.S. Raghavachar
  • Translation of Sribhashya by George Thibaut
  • Sruta Pradipika, Sanskrit commentary on Sribhashya by Sudarsana Suri with detailed English introduction