Page 54 - History of Tirupathi Balaji and comparison of Sri Vaishnava

energies does not involve loss of individuality.

Nondevotees factually appreciate the wonderful creation of material nature, but they
cannot appreciate the intelligence and energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who
is behind this material creation. Sripada Ramanujacarya, however, refers to a sutra from
the “Aitareya Upanishad” (1.1.1), “atma va idam agra asit,” which points out that the
supreme atma, the Absolute Truth, existed before the creation. One may argue, ‘If the
Supreme Personality of Godhead is completely spiritual, how is it possible for Him to be the
origin of creation and have within Himself both material and spiritual energies?’ To answer
this challenge, Sripada Ramanujacarya quotes a mantra from the Taittiriya Upanishad
(3.1) that states:
yato va imani bhutani jayante/ yena jatani jivanti/ yat prayanty abhisamvisanti

This mantra confi rms that the entire cosmic manifestation emanates from the Absolute
Truth, rests upon the Absolute Truth and after annihilation again re-enters the body of
the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The living entity is originally
spiritual, and when he enters the spiritual world or the body of the Supreme Lord, he still
retains his identity as an individual soul. In this connection Sripada Ramanujacarya gives
the example that when a green bird enters a green tree it does not become one with the
tree: it retains its identity as a bird, although it appears to merge with the greenness of
the tree. To give another example, an animal that enters a forest keeps its individuality,
although apparently the beast merges with the forest. Similarly, in material existence,
both the material energy and the living entities of the marginal potency maintain their
individuality. Thus although the energies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead interact
within the cosmic manifestation, each keeps its separate individual existence. Merging with
the material or spiritual energies, therefore, does not involve loss of individuality. According
to Sri Ramanujapada’s theory of Visishtadvaita, although all the energies of the Lord are
one, each keeps its individuality. (vaisishtya).

Prabhupada described Ramanujacarya as one of the most learned Vedic
scholars and an actual follower of the Bhakti path on the level of a “Mahajana,”
a great authority of Krishna consciousness.

One should not think that the person who takes to Bhakti is one who cannot perform
the ritualistic ceremonies recommended in the karma-kanda section of the Vedas or is not
suffi ciently educated to speculate on spiritual subjects. Mayavadis generally allege that the
Bhakti path is for women and illiterates. This is a groundless accusation. The Bhakti path
is followed by the most learned scholars, such as the Gosvamis, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu
and Ramanujacarya. These are the actual followers of the Bhakti path. Regardless of
whether or not one is educated or aristocratic, one must follow in their footsteps. Mahajano
yena gatah sa panthah; one must follow the path of the mahajanas. The mahajanas are
those who have taken to the path of devotional service (susilah sadhavo yatra narayana-
parayanah), for these great personalities are the perfect persons. (SB 6.1.17)

Understanding the real identity of Absolute Truth
Srila Prabhupada uses a quote from Ramanujacarya’s “Vedartha-sangraha”
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