Ramanuja was an Indian philosopher and religious teacher of Hinduism . According to tradition, he lived from 1017 to 1137. He belonged to the Vaishnava sect of Hinduism, members of which worship mainly the god Vishnu . Ramanuja considered Vishnu to be the supreme creator, all-powerful, perfect, and full of love and concern for humanity. Ramanuja believed that the righteous king Rama was the greatest of Vishnu’s many forms. He also believed that each soul retained its individual identity after death, although it was dependent on God and close to God.
Ramanuja was born into a scholarly family in southern India . Historians do not know his exact birth and death dates. When Ramanuja was still a boy, his father died. Later, Ramanuja made an unhappy marriage. He finally left his wife to become a holy man, practicing self-denial. Ramanuja made a long pilgrimage to the holy places of northern India before returning to Shrirangam in the southern state of Tamil Nadu . There, he gathered dozens of disciples to spread his teachings. Today, Shrirangam is a famous pilgrimage site.
The powerful rulers of Tamil Nadu worshipped the god Shiva . These rulers taught that when a person died, his or her soul merged with the Supreme Being or God. They persecuted Ramanuja for his different religious beliefs.
Ramanuja opposed the Hindu priests’ claim that they were the only people divinely authorized to teach the scriptures and to perform holy rituals. He boldly preached to people of all castes (social classes). Ramanuja also encouraged the education of women and preached equality of the sexes in social and religious matters.
