Sri Vaishnavism-Vishishtadvaita Vedanta-Tattva, Hita, Purushartham

Sri Vaishnavism is a major South Indian Hindu tradition (Sri sampradaya) focusing on the joint worship of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi, founded by Nathamuni and later developed by Ramanuja. Based on Vishishtadvaita Vedanta, it emphasizes total surrender (Prapatti) to God, devotion to the 12 Alwars' hymns (Nalayira Divya Prabandham), and strict ethical living.

21 Subjects: Introduction

• 1. SRI VAISHNAVISM: (Peace, Health, Happiness, Blissfulness, Consciousness, Spiritual Enlightenment)
• 2. SRI MAHALAKSHMI DEVI &SRI MAHAVISHNU DEV
• 3. SRI VAISHNAVISM GURU PARAMPARA &TEACHINGS
• 4. SRI VAISHNAVISM TEMPLES
• 5. SRI VAISHNAVISM POOJAS, MANTRAS, DAILY RITUALS, 100% PURE VEGETARIAN FOODS, CLEAN WATER
• 6. SRI VAISHNAVISM BASICS, PHILOSOPHY
• 7. HINDU WOMEN-STREE DHARMAM
• 8. HINDUISM-GOOD, RIGHT, PEACEFUL-DAILY DUTIES
• 9. GLOBAL NATURE &ENVIRONMENT CARE
• 10. SRIMAN NARAYANAN MANTRAS, BHAKTI DEVOTIONAL SONGS
• 11. SRI MAHALAKSHMI DEVI MANTRAS, BHAKTI DEVOTIONAL SONGS
• 12. 4000 DIVYA PRABHANDHAMS
• 13. 12 ALVARS
• 14. TIRUMALA TIRUPATI TEMPLES
• 15. SRI VAISHNAVAM UPANYASAMS (TAMIL, TELUGU)
• 16. SRI VAISHNAVISM-INTRODUCTION &BASICS
• 17. SRI VAISHNAVAS-GOOD RIGHT PEACEFUL DAILY DUTIES
• 18. HINDU WOMEN-STREE DHARMAM
• 19. SRI VAISHNAVAS-100% PURE VEGETARIAN FOODS, CLEAN WATER
• 20. SRI VAISHNAVISM GURU PARAMPARA &TEACHINGS
• 21. GURU SRI RAMANUJA ACHARYA-STATUE OF EQUALITY

Key Principles and Beliefs:

• Theological Foundation: Adheres to Vishishtadvaita Vedanta (qualified non-dualism), promoting a personal God (Sriman Narayana) who possesses all Good Auspicious Qualities attributes.
• Sriman Narayanan: Sattvic Peace Loving God, Inner Peace, Health, Happiness, Blissfulness (Shanti, Arogyam, Sukham, Anandam, Aishwaryam, Ayush).
• Role of Goddess Lakshmi: Sri Mahalakshmi Devi blesses us with Love &Compassion (Anbu, Karunai). Lakshmi ("Sri") is considered the inseparable consort of Vishnu, serving as the mediator (Purushakara) who pleads for the devotee's salvation.
• Total Surrender (Prapatti): The ultimate goal is Moksha (liberation), achieved through Bhakti &Prapatti (Saranagati-absolute surrender) to Vishnu, facilitated by an Acharya (Guru).
• Guru Parampara: A strict lineage of teachers, starting from Sriman Narayanan, passing to Sri MahaLakshmi, Vishvaksena, and then to human acharyas like Nathamuni, Yamunacharya, and Ramanujacharya, Pillai Lokacharya, Manavala Mamunigal (Tenkalai), &Vedanta Desika (Vadakalai).

Practices and Lifestyle:

• Pancha Kala Prakriya: Daily 5 Duties (Abhigamanam, Upadanam, Ijya, Svadhyaya, Ashtanga Yoga Meditation).
• Samashrayanam: A crucial initiation rite, often called Pancha Samskara, marking the formal acceptance into the tradition by a Guru.
• Veg Diet and Spiritual Life: Adheres strictly to 100% Pure vegetarianism. Food is consumed only as Prasadam (remnants offered to the Lord).
• Worship: Focuses on temple worship (particularly in places like Srirangam &Tirupati), 108 Divya Desams, 108 Abhimana Kshetrams and the worship of Saligramas.
• Key Scriptures: The Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Srimath Bhagavatham, Sri Vaishnava Granthams (Nathamuni, Ramanujar, Pillai Lokacharyar, Manavala Mamunigal) and the Tamil hymns of the 12 Alvars (Nalayira Divya Prabandhams), Ramayanam, Mahabharatham, Vishnu Puranam, Padma Puranam.
• Sri Vaishnava Mantras: 3 Rahasya Traya Mantras.

Historical and Cultural Significance:

• Origin: Starting from Sriman Narayanan, Sri Lakshmi Devi, Viswaksena, &Founded by Nathamuni (10th century) who revived the lost hymns of the 12 Alvars, it was later systematized by Ramanuja (11th-12th century), who promoted it as an inclusive path to salvation.
• Key Acharyas: Nathamuni, Yamunacharya, Ramanuja, Pillai Lokacharya, Manavala Mamunigal, Vedanta Desika.
• Regional Influence: Primarily rooted in Tamil Nadu, with significant historical influence in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and across India through major Sri Vaishnavite Temples.

The five core duties of a Sri Vaishnavite, primarily based on the teachings of Ramanujacharya, focus on complete surrender (Prapatti) to Sriman Narayana and service (Kainkaryam) to His Bhakta devotees &studying Bhagavatam.

5 Essential Duties of a Sri Vaishnavite:

• Pancha Samskaram: Undergoing the five purifying rituals initiated by a Guru to become a true Sri Vaishnava.
• Aradhanam &Kainkaryam: Daily worship of the deity and performing selfless service to Lakshmi &Vishnu and His devotees.
• Saranagati: Absolute surrender to Lord Narayana, trusting Him exclusively for protection and liberation (Moksha).
• Nama Smaranam &Sravanam: Chanting, Singing, and listening to the names of Vishnu (Ashtakshara Mantra, Dvaya Mantra) and hymns of 12 Azhwars (4000 Divya Prabandham).
• Satvika Jeevanam: Living a Good Righteous Peaceful Spiritual life adhering to Sri Vaishnava ethics &morality—Love, Compassion, Humility, Cleanliness, and strict Sri Vaishnava Vegetarian Diet Food habits &Clean Water.

Additional daily duties include dividing the day into five parts: (Abhigamanam, Upadanam, Ijya, Svadhyaya, and Yoga Meditation) to live a life focused on divine remembrance. These are known as the Pancha Kala Kriya (five-fold divisions of worship) or Pancaprakara (five methods of worship), which represent a structured daily routine for a practitioner—particularly in the Sri Vaishnava and Pancaratra traditions—to live a spiritual life focused on constant communion with God.

Pancha Kala Kriya (Five Divisions of Daily Worship):

• Abhigamanam (Approaching/Waking): Going to the Lord with humility, reverence, and love compassion. This involves waking up before daybreak (Brahma Muhurtam) with the name of the Lord on one's lips. The devotee performs daily rituals (nithya and naimittika karmas) and approaches the deity to offer themself to the Lord's feet, praying for a faultless day.
• Upadanam (Gathering): Gathering the materials required for worship. This period is set aside to collect, with care and devotion, appropriate items for the worship of God, such as flowers, fruits, water, Thulasi, Veg Food naivedyam prasadam and tools for rituals. These Purified items must be gathered with a pure mind, good heart, good soul and clean body.
• Ijya (Worship): The act of worship or sacrificial offering. During this period, the devotee offers the materials gathered during Upadanam to the Lord (or Deity) with deep devotion. This is the main worship session.
• Svadhyaya (Study/Self-Reflection): Study of sacred texts and self-study. This involves reading scriptures (Itihasas, Puranas, Vedas, 4000 Divya Prabandhams), studying the works of Acharyas (19 Gurus Parampara) and 12 Alwars (in Sri Vaishnavism), and chanting mantras while contemplating their meaning. It is meant to increase intimate knowledge of the Divine and to study one's own actions, thoughts, and reactions to grow spiritually.
• Yoga &Meditation: Good Health Care &Stilling the mind and focusing on God. Done in the final part of the day or at night, this involves profound Ashtanga Yoga, Meditation (Dhyana) and meditation on the self as an instrument of God. It brings Calm, Peace, Inner stillness, and closer union with God.

Bhakti towards the Divine God. Sri Vaishnavas worship both Sri Lakshmi and Vishnu, i.e. Mahalakshmi and Sriman Narayanan, together.

Five Forms of Lord Sriman Narayana:

• Param: That form of Lord Sriman Narayana who lives in His permanent abode, Sri Vaikuntam. There He is sitting on Adisesha along with His consort Sri Mahalakshmi.
• Vyuham: That form of Lord Sriman Narayana wherefrom he focuses on Creation, Maintenance and Destruction, from the posture of Vyuha Vasudeva lying down on his Bed Adisesha in Thirupparkadal, the Milky ocean.
• Vibhavam: That form of Lord Sriman Narayana in which He took Dashavatarams (10 Avataras) in this world and was known in different names such as as Sri Rama, Sri Krishna, etc.
• Archa: That form of Lord Sriman Narayana in which, having been duly invocated, He gives Darshan to devotees in various temples on this earth (108 Divya Desams). In these temples, He has taken such forms as the Bhaktas have wished and gives them Darshan day today.
• Antaryami: That form of Lord Sriman Narayana in which He resides within all of us as our soul, giving guidance day to day to people who care to listen to Him.

Six Divine Opulences (Shad-Bhaga - Vishnu Purana 6.5.47):

In Vedic philosophy, as defined by Maharishi Parashara in the Vishnu Purana (6.5.47), Bhagavan Sriman Narayanan (the Supreme Personality of Godhead) is one who possesses six divine opulences (shad-bhaga) in their complete and infinite totality:

• Aishwarya (Wealth &Sovereignty): Complete ownership and control over all riches, resources, and creation.
• Veerya (Strength &Valor): Infinite physical and spiritual power to sustain, protect, and accomplish anything without fatigue or opposition.
• Yashas (Fame &Glory): Eternal, universal renown and supreme reputation.
• Shriya (Beauty &Grace): Supreme, all-attractive physical and spiritual beauty, accompanied by divine opulence and charm.
• Jnana (Knowledge &Wisdom): Omniscience and a direct, all-encompassing understanding of everything past, present, and future.
• Vairagya (Renunciation): Complete detachment from material creation and worldly desires, remaining unaffected by the physical realm despite being its source.

Universal Religion &Sri Vaishnava Philosophy:

Sri Vaishnavism is a broad-based universal religion, which is open to one and all independent of Caste, Creed, Gender, or scholarship of the individual.

• Sriman Narayana is Supreme God, the Para Bramham. The Para Bramham is not Nirguna or Nirakara as claimed by certain schools, but possesses inifinite auspicious qualities Saguna Brahman.
• Sriman Narayana not only created the Nature and the Jivas, but also resides as Anthryami / Soul in everyone and everything. Thus everything is in Him and He is in everyone / everything. Thus the jivas are part of this Supreme God.
• While ultimately all the Jivas have to merge with the God, this merger could take many Janmas / births till the Jivas qualify for this merger by doing good deeds/Punyams, Kainkaryams to Bhagavan, Bhagavatas, Bhagavatham.
• This merger with Sriman Narayana can be quickened to happen at the end of current life itself, provided we do Prapatti / Saranagati to God through an Acharya and lead a Good righteous / Dharmic life after doing the Prapatti.
• Once the soul reaches Sri Vaikuntam Logam, the abode of Sriman Narayana, having been freed from the cycle of birth, death &rebirth, the soul engages in eternal service to Sriman Narayana.

Sangu Chakra Namam:

Sangu Chakra Namam represents the sacred symbols of Lord Sri Mahavishnu—the Conch (Sangu) and Discus (Chakra)—often combined with the Tiruman (Namam) tilak. It symbolizes divine protection, primordial sound, cosmic order, and spiritual enlightenment. It is used to bring positivity, harmony, and Vishnu's blessings into homes, temples, and daily poojas.

• Sangu: Conch shell, Panchajanya (represents creation, primeval sound, and cosmic ego).
• Chakra: Discus, Sudarshana (represents the universal mind and the Lord's will to uphold dharma). Destroys Evil &Protects Good.
• Namam: Tilak or mark, indicating devotion to Lord Vishnu (Perumal).
• Synonyms/Related Items: Sangu Chakra Perumal, Tirupati Balaji symbol, Shankh Chakra Tilak, Sri Vaishnava mark.

Visistadvaita (Qualified Non-dualism) - Core Tenets (Tattva, Hita, Purushartham):

Visistadvaita is a Vedanta school founded by Guru Sri Ramanujacharya that posits Brahman (Vishnu-Narayana) as the supreme, personal reality with infinite auspicious attributes. It argues that individual souls (Jiva) and the material world (Jagat) are real, inseparably dependent modes or attributes of Brahman, functioning like a body to the divine soul.

• Qualified Monism: It differs from Advaita's absolute non-dualism by holding that the one Brahman exists in a qualified form, possessing internal distinctions (souls and matter).
• Three Real Entities (Tattva): Recognizes three interconnected, real entities: Parabrahman (controller/God), Cit (Sentient souls), and Achit (insentient matter World / Global Nature &Environment).
• Body-Soul Relationship: The relationship between Brahman and the Universe is described as sarira-sariri (body-soul), where the cosmos is the body of God.
• Path to Liberation (Hita): Liberation (Moksha) is achieved through Bhakti (devotion) and Prapatti (complete self-surrender), not just knowledge.
• Rejection of Illusion: The world is considered real, not a manifestation of maya (illusion).
• The Ultimate Goal (Purushartha): Purushartham defines what a human being ought to seek:
  • Dharma: Good Righteousness Way &Peaceful Living.
  • Artha: Worldly material wealth.
  • Kama: Legitimate Desires, which act as a baseline for human being life.
  • Moksham (Videha Mukti): The ultimate liberation where the individual soul is freed from the cycle of rebirth (samsara) and reaches the supreme abode (Sri Vaikuntham Logam - Celestial Divine Abode of Sri Lakshmi Narayanan) to engage in eternal, blissful service (kainkaryam) to Parabrahman while retaining its individual identity.

Guru Sri Ramanuja Acharya developed this Sri Vaishnavism Vishistadvaita Vedanta (Tattva Hita Purushartham) system by synthesising the Upanishads, Brahma Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita &4000 Divya Prabandhams, acting as a bridge between absolute monism and duality, providing a deeply theistic, personal, and devotional approach to God.

In Hindu theology, particularly Sri Vaishnavism, Lord Sri Maha Vishnu is revered as the Supreme Being, embodying the ultimate divine attributes. Sriman Narayanan is worshipped as Omnibenevolent (all-good), Omnipresent (present everywhere/all-pervading), Omnipotent (all-powerful), and Omniscient (all-knowing), serving as the sustainer and preserver of the universe. These good quality characteristics signify Sriman Narayanan role as the absolute, infinite consciousness that governs the cosmos.

The Divine Forms of the Hindu Goddess:

In Hinduism, Sri Vaishnavism, Sri Mahalakshmi Devi is the supreme goddess of wealth, beauty, prosperity, and auspiciousness, while Stree Dharmam outlines the spiritual and moral duties of Hindu Women. Each of the divine forms represents a unique facet of the Supreme Mother, embodying specific virtues that serve as a spiritual blueprint for women seeking to balance family duties, worldly responsibilities &inner spiritual growth.

• Sri Mahalakshmi Devi: The primordial source of all abundance, beauty, and light. She is the eternal consort of Lord Vishnu, representing the cosmic energy (shakti) that sustains and nurtures creation.
• Sri Ashtalakshmi Devis: The eight manifestations of Lakshmi who fulfill all human needs:
  • Adi Lakshmi: Spiritual wealth and primordial energy.
  • Dhana Lakshmi: Material wealth and gold.
  • Dhanya Lakshmi: Agricultural wealth and nourishment.
  • Gaja Lakshmi: Power, royalty, and animal wealth.
  • Santana Lakshmi: The wealth of family, lineage generations, and children.
  • Veera Lakshmi: Courage, inner strength, and patience.
  • Vijaya Lakshmi: Victory and success in all endeavors.
  • Vidya Lakshmi: Knowledge, wisdom, and intellectual growth.
• Sri Sita Devi: An avatar of Lakshmi and the consort of Lord Rama. She is the ultimate personification of grace, unwavering loyalty, fortitude, Modesty, Chastity, Virtues, Pativrata and dignity under immense adversity.
• Sri Ranganayaki Thayar: The presiding goddess of the Srirangam temple &consort of Sri Ranganatha Swamy. She represents unconditional love, maternal compassion, and the path of absolute surrender (Prapatti).
• Sri Padmavathi Devi: The consort of Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy (Tirupati Tirumala). Born from a lotus, she symbolizes purity, cosmic harmony &the granting of boons to devotees.

Hindu Women and Stree Dharmam:

Stree Dharmam (Good Righteous Peaceful Duty of a woman) is not merely a set of family &social rules, but a deep spiritual path. Hindu Women follow Acharam Anushtanam Madi (Physical, Mental, Spiritual, Purity &Cleanliness). Historically and philosophically, Hinduism views the woman as the Grihalakshmi the living Lakshmi of the household.

The virtues demonstrated by the goddesses translate directly into practical Stree Dharmam:

• 1. Nurturing and Sustenance (The Lakshmi Principle): Just as Dhanya and Santana Lakshmi nourish the universe, a woman is traditionally seen as the emotional and physical anchor of the family. Her duty includes creating a harmonious environment, managing resources wisely, and cultivating a welcoming atmosphere where peace (shanti) can thrive.
• 2. Resilience and Dignity (The Sita Principle): Sri Sita Devi teaches that Stree Dharmam involves immense mental strength. Facing trials with composure, maintaining personal integrity, and standing firm in truth are central to a woman's spiritual power (pativrata shakti).
• 3. Wisdom and Grace (The Vidya &Padmavathi Principle): A woman's role involves passing down cultural, moral, and spiritual values to the next generation. By cultivating knowledge and inner purity, she acts as the first guru to her children.
• 4. Compassion and Devotion (The Ranganayaki Principle): Stree Dharmam emphasizes unconditional love and kindness.
• 5. Sri Mahalakshmi Devi - Love &Compassion: Anbu Karunai embodying divine grace.
• 6. Purushakara Mediator: Sri Mahalakshmi Devi blesses devotees to attain Mukti Moksha by mediating as purushakara to Sriman Narayanan.

Summary Comparison: Divine Mother &Stree Dharmam

• Sri Mahalakshmi: Cosmic Abundance • Cultivating an auspicious, clean, prosperous and peaceful home.
• Sri Ashtalakshmi: Holistic Well-being • Balancing multi-faceted responsibilities (courage, wisdom, finances).
• Sri Sita Devi: Unshakable Fortitude • Maintaining dignity, loyalty, modesty, chastity, pativrata, virtues, and grace.
• Sri Ranganayaki: Motherly Compassion • Practicing empathy, spiritual devotion, and selflessness.
• Sri Padmavathi: Purity &Devotion • Seeking higher spiritual truths and uplifting the family unit.