For me Sribhashyam is a subject which has stayed elusive for nearly five decades. But my efforts to familiarise myself have enriched me in sampradaya; these I must share with deep gratitude to all the mahanubhavas, many of whom I can not name.
2. I have been postponing this record hoping to refine it further. But with eyesight issues in the offing, I must do it now.
3. I want to touch subjects like Ramanuja’s background, inspiration for this work, his style of dealing with subjects,etc. Incidentally, we shall also examine whether Srivaishnava tradition is narrow minded, what devataantara means, and similar topics.
4. These topics, though not directly touching the content of Sribhashya, help us to keep our orientation steady. If we keep our position fixed on one set of beliefs, we are enabled to absorb abstract material in a consistent manner. When sufficiently equipped, it would be possible to experience the impact of Brahmajnana independent of any particular belief, but that is at the level of a sage like Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. This phenomenon explains exemplary bhakti in a galaxy of advaitis like Sankara, Bodendra, and Madusudana Saraswati. The last-named went say far as to declare “Krishnat param kimapi tatvam aham na Jane”- “I know no Supreme Reality other than Krishna”. An echo of கண்ணன் அல்லால் தெய்வம் இல்லை- நம்மாழ்வார். Even Buddhist teachers used sunyavada only to banish the last remaining desire of jiva, the wish for immortality by identity with the Supreme. This achieved, they stayed as bhaktas worshipping at Hindu temples.
5. Srivaishnavas recollect Ramanuja’s background several times a day, in what is known as Guruparampara, in arohana and avarohana order. Ramanuja’s maanasika guru was Yamunacharya (the two never met face to face in their lifetime, the guru had just passed away when the eager sishya reached Srirangam). Ramanuja undertook the work of bhashya in deference to his guru’s wishes.
6. Yamunacharya’s grandfather Nathamuni is the first historical character in the line. He is the one who rediscovered the 4000 divine verses of azhwars, (Vaishnava) Tamil saints , because of whom Puranas celebrate Dravidadesa as the origin of bhakti.
7.Yamunacharya ,who had the fortune of education under very competent masters, was the first to compose a key Srivaishnava philosophical commentary. His brief Gitartha Sangraha opens with the declaration “Brahman is Narayana”. This belief will remove many doubts tormenting students of Sribhashya. Its origin and implications will be seen in the next post.
About Sribhashyam 