Sri Ramanujacharya Jayanti 2023: All You Should Know About the Great philosopher, Thinker and a Social Reformer of India

Ramanujacharya, also known as Ramanuja or Ramanuja Acharya, was a great philosopher, thinker and a social reformer of India. He is accredited for his philosophical foundations on devotionalism (meaning bhakti) that had a major influence on the Bhakti movement. Ramanuja is sometimes also referred to as Ilaya Perumal, meaning the radiant one. It is believed that Ramanujacharya was born in 1017 CE and disappeared in 1137 CE at the age of 120 years. The birth anniversary of Ramanujacharya is celebrated as Ramanuja Jayanthi which is considered an important festival in south India, especially in the state of Tamil Nadu.

Sri Ramanuja Acharya Jayanthi 2023 will be celebrated on Tuesday, 25th of April. Let know more about how to celebrate it, its significance and the life history of Sri Ramanujacharya.

Sri Ramanujacharya Jayanti 2023 Date

Date of Sri Ramanuja Jayanthi is calculated according to the Tamil solar calendar and is observed during Chithirai month on Thiruvathirai Nakshatra day. In Gregorian calendar, it normally falls in the month of April or May. In the year 2023, Sri Ramanujacharya Jayanthi will be observed on Tuesday, 25th of April. The year will mark the 1006^th birth anniversary of Sri Ramanujacharya

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Brief Life History of Ramanujacharya

Sri Ramanuja Acharya was born to mother Kanthimathi and father Asuri Kesava Somayaji in 1017 CE at Sriperumbudur village in Tamil Nadu. He was named originally as Lakshamana but later came to be known as Ramanuja. He is considered as one of the greatest philosopher and thinker and play major roles towards Sri Vaishnavism tradition and Bhakti movement, both an important component of Hinduism.

After Ramanuja got married, he moved to Kanchipuram to study in an Advaita Vedanta monastery with Yadava Prakasa as his guru. Owing to frequent disagreement with his guru, Ramanuja got separated from Prakasa and continued studying on his own. It is also said that Prakasa got jealous of increasing fame of Ramanuja and tried to have him killed. But soon he realized his mistake and became a disciple of Ramanuja. Ramanuja later renounced his married life and became a Hindu monk and started working as a priest at the Varadharaja Perumal temple, a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, at Kanchipuram. He then began teaching people the principle of moksha (salvation) and how to attain it with the help of personal god and saguna Vishnu.

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Significant works of Sri Ramanujacharya

Prior to Ramanuja, Sri Vaishnavite order did not favored the people from other castes. Ramanuja revolted against the discrimination on the basis of caste and helped the people who were considered as untouchables to follow the path leading to Sri Vaishnava Bhakthi Movement. Sri Ramanujacharya is also attributed with the creation of nine Sanskrit texts under Sri Vaishnava tradition. These are:

Major works-

1. Vedarthasangraha (a summary of the meaning of Vedas)
2. Sri Bhashya (a review and commentary on the Brahma Sutras)
3. Bhagavad Gita Bhashya (a review and commentary on the Bhagavad Gita)

Minor works

1. Nitya Grantham
2. Vedantadipa
3. Vedantasara
4. Saranagati Gadyam
5. Sriranga Gadyam
6. Srivaikunta Gadyam

The compilation of the above three texts (Saranagati Gadyam, Sriranga Gadyam and Srivaikunta Gadyam) is collectively known as Gadya Trayam.

Celebration of Sri Ramanujacharya Jayanthi

Grand celebrations are held by the followers of Sri Ramanuja Acharya on the day of Sri Ramanujacharya Jayanthi. On the occasion of this festival, the statue of Sri Ramanuja Acharya, also called as the ‘Uthsava Murti’ is given a traditional holy bath. Special prayers are conducted and offerings are made in the temples on the day of his birth anniversary.

His followers recite and spread his teachings in temples and at other religious premises. In the southern state of Tamil Nadu, special celebrations and festivities are carried out on Sri Ramanujacharya Jayanthi. Followers of Ramanuja from all over the country visits the Sri Ramanuja Swamy Temple in Sriperumbudur.

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