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From: Ram Chandran (rchandran_at_cox.rr.com)
Date: Mon Sep 10 2001 - 17:47:50 PDT
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This article is emailed to you by Ram Chandran ( rchandran@c... )
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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com)
Philosophy of Ramanuja
COMPLETE WORKS OF Dr. K. C. VARADACHARI (Volume Six --
Visishtadvaita -- Metaphysics Epistemology and Philosophy): Sri
Ramachandra Publishers, Fourth Floor, Laxmi Plaza, Entrenchment
Road, East Marredpally, Secunderabad. Rs. 250.
THE SIXTH volume of Complete works of Dr. K. C. Varadachari
extensively deals with the metaphysical doctrines expounded by
Sri Ramajuna in his Sri Bashya, the epistemological truths,
logical implications of the mind which is not a machine but an
organism, the synthetic approach of Visishtadvaita philosophy and
the Visishtadvaita system of thought explained in terms of
philosophy of religion. Dr. Varadachari gives a vivid picture of
the entire gamut of the philosophy of Visishtadvaita ranging from
the theory of knowledge, which is based on its ontology
elucidating the harmony of the physical, moral, and spiritual
orders or Reality. The relation between physical matter and
metaphysical ideologies have been thoroughly analysed in a
logical way and the author calls such a unity as organismic and
personalistic. Since the culmination of philosophical inquiries
is religion and forms the basis for metaphysics, it brings out
the deepest aspirations of religious life based on the
realisation of Visishtadvaita ideologies.
The metaphysical system of Sri Ramanuja as elucidated effectively
and efficiently by the author treats the theory of cause or the
cause-effect continuum, about the evolution of the universe or
the process as in space-time continuum and about the ontological
status of the ultimate reality or the substance. Suitable
citations are given at appropriate places to substantiate the
arguments.
Prof. Varadachari has made a comparative analysis of
Visishtadvaita with the other systems like Nyaya, Vaiseshika,
Sankhya, Sankara-bashya and Kant. It is also interesting to note
that the author resorts to the purva-paksha-siddhanta-model
(rival faith-one's own faith) for the augmentation and permeating
of Visishtadvaita thought. It is customary among Indian thinkers
to start their inquiry with epistemology and proceed to discuss
the metaphysical issues.
According to the author, the method of Ramanuja is ontological
and not epistemological, for what exists is perceivable and not
what perceived only exists. In this sense "the epistemological
conclusion is only a portion of the ontological and supports the
ontological.''
The key concepts in Visishtadvaita viz., aprathaksiddha-
viseshana, dharma bhutta jnana, sarira-sariri bhava, and
antaryamin are well explained. The realistic trend maintained by
Ramajuna throughout is tactfully and skilfully elucidated by the
author against absolutistic and idealistic trends.
The academic excellence of Dr. Varadachari is revealed in every
page of his book. His mission was to establish the Visishtadvaita
system of thought as a systematic presentation of philosophy of
religion and he has succeeded in his endeavour.
R. GOPALAKRISHNAN
Copyrights: 1995 - 2001 The Hindu
Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are
expressly
prohibited without the consent of The Hindu
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