Scriptural

Śrī Bhāṣya

ஸ்ரீபாஷ்யம்

Also known as: śrī bhāṣya, sri bhashya, sribhashya, brahmasutra bhashya, ramanuja bhashya, sri-bhasya

Meaning

Rāmānuja's magnum opus — his commentary on the Brahma Sūtras establishing Viśiṣṭādvaita Vedānta as the correct interpretation of Upaniṣadic teaching.

Detailed Explanation

The Great Commentary

Śrī Bhāṣya ('The Blessed Commentary') is Rāmānuja's comprehensive commentary on the Brahma Sūtras of Bādarāyaṇa (Vyāsa). It is the definitive statement of Viśiṣṭādvaita Vedānta and constitutes the philosophical bedrock of the entire Śrī Vaiṣṇava tradition. Rāmānuja wrote it after extensive study of the tradition culminating in his receiving the commentary-lineage from Tirukkoṭṭiyūr Nambi.

Content

The Śrī Bhāṣya systematically addresses: the nature of Brahman as Śrīman Nārāyaṇa; the relationship between Brahman, souls, and matter (śarīra-śarīri); the refutation of Śaṅkara's Advaita interpretation; the validity of Pañcarātra Āgama; the means to liberation; and the nature of the liberated state. It engages Advaita, Mīmāṃsā, Nyāya, Sāṅkhya, and Buddhist positions as pūrva-pakṣas.

Legacy

The Śrī Bhāṣya established Viśiṣṭādvaita as a major Vedānta school on par with Advaita. All subsequent Śrī Vaiṣṇava philosophical writing — Deśika's Tattvamukta-kalāpa, Śata-dūṣaṇī, Pañcarātra-Rakṣā — builds on, defends, and elaborates its positions.

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