Two Paths
In the Sri Vaishnava tradition, two primary upāyas (means) are recognized:
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Bhakti-yoga — a rigorous, long-term sādhana requiring mastery of the Vedic path, adherence to varṇāśrama, control of senses, cultivation of jñāna (knowledge), dhyāna (meditation), and eventually the direct vision of the Lord. This path takes many lifetimes and requires considerable capability.
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Prapatti (Śaraṇāgati) — the single-act surrender to the Lord as the only upāya. This is not a prolonged sādhana but a one-time act of complete surrender, after which the Lord himself becomes the upāya. Pillai Lokācārya and the Tenkalai school emphasize that prapatti is not itself the means but the recognition that the Lord is the means.
Sādhana and Sādhya
In Viśiṣṭādvaita, the terms sādhana (means) and sādhya (goal/end) are carefully distinguished. The sādhya is Bhagavān himself — both as the one to be attained and as the eternal joy of kainkarya. The danger in confusing sādhana for sādhya is treating spiritual practices as ends in themselves.
Beyond Sādhana: Ācārya-Niṣṭhā
In the Tenkalai school's most evolved teaching, the highest stance is not performing sādhana at all, but total reliance on the ācārya (ācārya-niṣṭhā). The ācārya's grace, flowing from the guruparamparā, is held to be sufficient. This does not mean abandoning practice but releasing the sense that one's practice is what accomplishes the goal.