Fundamentals of Visistadvaita Vedanta

The doctrine of Visitadvaita, expounded by Ramanuja, was developed into a sound system of philosophy by the most brilliant of his successors, Venkatanatha, ‘popularly known as Veanta Desika’. His chief contribution to the intellectual foundation of the system lay in the composition of the text of Tattva-mukta-kalapa, a treatise of significant philosophical import left for posterity. In this volume, which is a study of Visistadvaita based on Tattva-mukta-kalapa, the major and important issues are brought within the purview of discussion. The contemporary rival schools are successfully encountered. In the textual light of Tattva-mukta-kalapa, the notion that Visistad vaita is a theological system is dispelled, and its philosophical core is established beyond doubt. The author maintains ‘the original orthodox style, so characteristic of the ancient’ Acaryas’, in his delineation of topics; yet the exposition remains free from all kinds of scholastic trappings. The volume is a definitive study of Visistadvaita doctrines, both in their ‘philosophical as well as theological aspects’. Its in-depth probe of ‘the fundamental epistemological and philosophical issues – common to all schools’ both in the East and the West makes its appeal to those interested ‘in understanding the basic problems of philosophy’.