Question

Write in brief about the ideas of Shankara and Ramanuja.

Answer 1

• Shankara, born in Kerala in the eighth century, was a very influential thinker of India. He was an advocate of Advaita or the doctrine of the oneness of the human soul and the Supreme Soul which is formless and is the Ultimate Reality.

• Ramanuja was born in Tamil Nadu in the eleventh century, and he was highly influenced by the philosophy of the Alvars. He thought that the path to salvation was through intense devotion to Lord Vishnu because the grace of the Lord helps devotees attain permanent bliss (freedom and happiness).