Page 57 - History of Tirupathi Balaji and comparison of Sri Vaishnava

Prabhupada: Yes. Hare Krishna. Jaya.

Ramanujacarya, the stalwart protagonist to defeat Mayavadis

Prabhupada says that Ramanujacarya was the greatest acarya among the
Sri Vaisnavas and the most stalwart protagonist to defeat Mayavadi philosophy.
There are multiple examples that substantiate this claim:

Morning walk conversation with Dr. Patel and Srila Prabhupada - 75-11-20
- BOMBAY - November 20, 1975:
Prabhupada: Amongst the Vaishnavas, he was the greatest acarya, Ramanujacarya.
And to kill (defeat) the Mayavadis, he was the ablest person, Ramanujacarya. Still in
South India, the Mayavadis and the Ramanujas, they have talks, and the Mayavadis
(impersonalists) are defeated always.

Letter to V. S. R. Chakravarti -- Bombay 22 November, 1974:

Prabhupada: So far I am personally concerned, following the footsteps of my guru
Maharaj Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada, we accept the principles of
all the acaryas, although offi cially we belong to the Madhva sampradaya. Our sampradaya
is known as the Madhva Gaudiya sampradaya. We fi nd great shelter at the lotus feet of
Sri Ramanujacarya because his lotus feet are the strongest fort to combat the mayavadi
philosophy.

In the following conversation Srila Prabhupada indicates the similar
corresponding position taken by Ramanujacarya and Lord Caitanya concerning
their objection of Mayavada philosophy.

Room Conversation -- July 1, 1976, New Vrindaban

Hari-sauri: Ramanujacarya is very well known in India, so why don’t they read his
commentary?
Prabhupada: They hate Ramanujacarya because he’s Vaishnava.

Hari-sauri: Because he doesn’t allow them to speculate.

Prabhupada: He is very strict. He is a stubborn enemy of Shankaracarya. All the
Vaishnava acaryas. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, declare it: mayavadi-bhashya sunile haya
sarva-nasa (CC Madhya 6.169). If you hear the interpretation of Mayavadis, then you are
doomed. You have no hope for spiritual advancement. This is the statement. Mayavadi-
bhashya sunile haya sarva-nasa. Finished, your spiritual life is fi nished. You can write this
also, that Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s instruction is strictly to avoid the so-called Vedantists.
Ramanujacarya – the follower of scriptures

In the following purport of the Srimad Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada
affi rms that Ramanujacarya accepts the statements of Srimad Bhagavatam SB
57