Comparative Analysis of Vedant of Shankara and Vedant of Ramanuja

Vedanta is a school of Hindu philosophy that focuses on the interpretation of the sacred texts, the Vedas. There are different sub-schools within Vedanta, two of which are Shankara's Advaita Vedanta and Ramanuja's Vishishtadvaita Vedanta. While both these sub-schools share some commonalities, there are significant differences between the two, which can be explored through a comparative analysis.

Concept of Brahman:

In Shankara's Advaita Vedanta, Brahman is the only reality, and the world is an illusion or Maya. According to Shankara, the individual self or Atman is not different from Brahman but is identical to it. The goal of human life is to realize this identity through self-inquiry and meditation.

In contrast, Ramanuja's Vishishtadvaita Vedanta considers Brahman as the highest reality, but not the only one. Ramanuja's view of Brahman is that it includes both the unchanging and the changing aspects of reality. Ramanuja also stresses that the individual self is distinct from Brahman and is dependent on it. The goal of human life, according to Ramanuja, is not to achieve identity with Brahman but to attain a state of eternal blissful existence in the presence of Brahman.

Concept of Maya:

Shankara's Advaita Vedanta holds that the world is an illusion or Maya, and the ultimate reality is Brahman. Shankara argues that the world is a product of ignorance and that the individual self is responsible for the creation of the world. The world is seen as an obstacle to spiritual realization and must be transcended through the practice of self-inquiry and meditation.

Ramanuja's Vishishtadvaita Vedanta, on the other hand, holds that the world is real, but its reality is dependent on Brahman. Ramanuja argues that the world is a manifestation of Brahman's glory and is therefore not an obstacle to spiritual realization. The goal of spiritual practice is to see the unity of the world with Brahman rather than to transcend the world.

Concept of Bhakti:

Shankara's Advaita Vedanta focuses on Jnana Yoga or the path of knowledge as the means of realizing the identity of the individual self with Brahman. Bhakti or devotion is seen as a preliminary stage that can help purify the mind, but it is not the ultimate goal.

In contrast, Ramanuja's Vishishtadvaita Vedanta places a great emphasis on Bhakti or devotion to God as the means of attaining liberation. Ramanuja argues that the path of devotion can lead to knowledge of Brahman, and therefore Bhakti is a valid means of spiritual practice.

Concept of Liberation:

Shankara's Advaita Vedanta holds that the individual self realizes its identity with Brahman upon the realization that the world is an illusion. Liberation is achieved through the eradication of ignorance and the attainment of knowledge.

Ramanuja's Vishishtadvaita Vedanta, on the other hand, sees liberation as a state of eternal blissful existence in the presence of Brahman. Liberation is attained through devotion to God and the attainment of knowledge of Brahman's nature.

In conclusion, while both Shankara's Advaita Vedanta and Ramanuja's Vishishtadvaita Vedanta share some commonalities, they have significant differences in their understanding of the nature of reality, the role of devotion, and the attainment of liberation. These differences reflect different approaches to spiritual practice and can provide valuable insights into the diversity of Hindu philosophy.