Statue of Ramanujacharya

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    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

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