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Which of the following is the major difference between the Philosophy of Shankara and Ramanuja?
  • a)
    Shankara emphasized on dualism, whereas Ramanuja on advait
  • b)
    Shankara emphasized on advaita, whereas Ramanuja on Vishishtadvaita - “qualified oneness”
  • c)
    Shankara emphasized on the fact that there are multiple living realities in the world, whereas Ramanujastressed on the restless nature of human mind
  • d)
    None of the above
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
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Which of the following is the major difference between the Philosophy ...
Learning: Shankara
Shankara was an advocate of Advaita or the doctrine of the oneness of the individual soul and the Supreme God which is the Ultimate Reality. He taught that Brahman, the only or Ultimate Reality, was formless and without any attributes.
He considered the world around us to be an illusion ormaya, and preached renunciation of the world and adoption of the path of knowledge to understand the true nature of Brahman and attain salvation.  
Ramanuja: Ramanuja, born in Tamil Nadu in the eleventh century, was deeply influenced by the Alvars. According to him the best means of attaining salvationwas through intense devotion to Vishnu.
Vishnu in His grace helps the devotee to attain the bliss of union with Him. He propounded the doctrine of Vishishtadvaita or qualified oneness in that the soul even when united with the Supreme God remained distinct.
Ramanuja’s doctrine greatly inspired the new strand of bhakti which developed in north India subsequently.
Q Source: Improvisation:Page 107: Class 7th NCERT History: Our Pasts-II
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Which of the following is the major difference between the Philosophy ...
Introduction:
Shankara and Ramanuja are two important figures in the history of Indian philosophy. They both belonged to the Vedanta school of philosophy, which is based on the interpretation of the Upanishads, the sacred texts of Hinduism. While both philosophers have contributed significantly to the development of Vedanta, the major difference between their philosophies lies in their understanding of the relationship between the individual self (Atman) and the ultimate reality (Brahman).

Main Difference:
The major difference between the philosophies of Shankara and Ramanuja is as follows:

Shankara's Philosophy:
Shankara, also known as Adi Shankaracharya, emphasized the concept of Advaita, which means non-dualism. According to Shankara, the ultimate reality (Brahman) is one and indivisible. He believed that the individual self (Atman) and the ultimate reality (Brahman) are essentially the same, and the apparent differences between them are due to ignorance or illusion (maya). Shankara argued that the ultimate goal of human life is to realize this non-dual nature of reality and attain liberation (moksha) from the cycle of birth and death.

Ramanuja's Philosophy:
Ramanuja, on the other hand, emphasized the concept of Vishishtadvaita, which means qualified oneness. According to Ramanuja, the individual self (Atman) and the ultimate reality (Brahman) are distinct entities, yet they are intimately connected. He believed that the individual self is a part of the ultimate reality, and their relationship is characterized by a qualified oneness. Ramanuja argued that the ultimate goal of human life is not just liberation from the cycle of birth and death, but also the attainment of a blissful relationship with the ultimate reality.

Explanation:
The major difference between Shankara and Ramanuja lies in their understanding of the relationship between the individual self and the ultimate reality. While Shankara emphasized the non-dual nature of reality and the identity of the individual self with the ultimate reality, Ramanuja emphasized the qualified oneness between the individual self and the ultimate reality. Shankara's philosophy is based on the idea of unity and oneness, whereas Ramanuja's philosophy recognizes the individual self as a distinct entity connected to the ultimate reality.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, the major difference between the philosophies of Shankara and Ramanuja lies in their understanding of the relationship between the individual self and the ultimate reality. Shankara emphasized non-dualism, while Ramanuja emphasized qualified oneness. Both philosophers have made significant contributions to the development of Vedanta philosophy and have influenced the way Hinduism is understood and practiced.
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Which of the following is the major difference between the Philosophy of Shankara and Ramanuja?a)Shankara emphasized on dualism, whereas Ramanuja on advaitb)Shankara emphasized on advaita, whereas Ramanuja on Vishishtadvaita - “qualified oneness”c)Shankara emphasized on the fact that there are multiple living realities in the world, whereas Ramanujastressed on the restless nature of human mindd)None of the aboveCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
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Which of the following is the major difference between the Philosophy of Shankara and Ramanuja?a)Shankara emphasized on dualism, whereas Ramanuja on advaitb)Shankara emphasized on advaita, whereas Ramanuja on Vishishtadvaita - “qualified oneness”c)Shankara emphasized on the fact that there are multiple living realities in the world, whereas Ramanujastressed on the restless nature of human mindd)None of the aboveCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? for UPSC 2024 is part of UPSC preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the UPSC exam syllabus. Information about Which of the following is the major difference between the Philosophy of Shankara and Ramanuja?a)Shankara emphasized on dualism, whereas Ramanuja on advaitb)Shankara emphasized on advaita, whereas Ramanuja on Vishishtadvaita - “qualified oneness”c)Shankara emphasized on the fact that there are multiple living realities in the world, whereas Ramanujastressed on the restless nature of human mindd)None of the aboveCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for UPSC 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Which of the following is the major difference between the Philosophy of Shankara and Ramanuja?a)Shankara emphasized on dualism, whereas Ramanuja on advaitb)Shankara emphasized on advaita, whereas Ramanuja on Vishishtadvaita - “qualified oneness”c)Shankara emphasized on the fact that there are multiple living realities in the world, whereas Ramanujastressed on the restless nature of human mindd)None of the aboveCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?.
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