Vishistadvaita

Vishishtadvaita is a prominent school of Vedanta philosophy, one of the major traditions within Hinduism. Founded by the philosopher Ramanujacharya in the 11th century, Vishishtadvaita seeks to reconcile the monistic emphasis of Advaita Vedanta with the devotional practices (Bhakti) that were gaining prominence. The term itself translates to "qualified non-dualism."

At its core, Vishishtadvaita posits that the ultimate reality, Brahman, is not an undifferentiated absolute but rather a qualified entity. This Brahman is understood as the supreme personal God, often identified with Vishnu. The universe and all individual souls (jivas) are considered real and distinct attributes or "modes" of Brahman. They are inseparable from Brahman, much like a body is inseparable from its soul, thus forming a unified whole.

This view contrasts with Advaita Vedanta, which asserts that Brahman is the only reality and the perceived world is an illusion (maya). In Vishishtadvaita, the world and the souls are considered real manifestations of Brahman, not illusory. The relationship between Brahman, the individual souls, and the material world is one of inseparable inseparability, where the latter two are the "body" of Brahman.

Salvation (moksha) in Vishishtadvaita is achieved through a combination of knowledge (jnana), action (karma), and devotion (bhakti). However, bhakti, particularly loving devotion to God (Vishnu), is considered the most accessible and effective path. Through sincere devotion and surrender, the individual soul can attain closeness to God and eventually experience a form of eternal service in God's abode.