Dear Sirs, I agree with the views expressed in the email referred to.One has to adopt the great qualities preached and practised by Bhagavad Bhashyakara. Sri Bhasyakarar had developed and defended the vishistadvaita siddhanta with great humility and due respect for Sri Bhagavadpada. Because of His kalyanagunas, great Advaitis like Yadava prakasa and Yagnamurthy came under his spell.
I have not gone through the previous correspondences. Hence I am not going into the merits of the arguments and counter arguments advanced in support of the either of the parties. However, I am submitting my humble observations about Sri Bhagavadpada in the following lines.
Acharya Sankara was a great vaishnavite in the broad sense. He expounded his doctorine of monism on the Vaishnava platform. He wrote commentaries on the works which speak in itself vishnu paratvam. Narayana Bhattathiri had acknowledged and felicitated Acharya Sankara as a great Vaishnavite. Generally, there has been a long time misconception prevails in the minds of Smarthas and Vaishnavites in the tamil land. As a matter of fact, smarthas are not saivites. Any smartha who loves, adores, devotes Lord Vishnu is a vaishnavite. This is at theological level. Let us move into philosophical level. Advaitam, Dwaitam & Vishistadvaitam found their roots in the Vedas, upanishads. Our contention is that the vedic texts found full justice at the lotus hands of Sri Bhashyakara rathar than Sri Anandathirtha and Sri Bhagadvadpada. We should also admit the fact that the contributions of both Acharyas namely, Sri Anandathirtha and Sri Bhagavadpada were in no way inferior to that of Sri Bhashyakara. I could also see the common factors in the siddhantas of Trimatacharyas.
Trimatacharyas were true vaishnavites. They defended the Vishnuparatvam in their works. There were differences in analytical interpretation of vedic texts. But their spiritual journey and their discoveries were deeply routed in vishnu bhakti. Like Sri Bhashyakara, Sri Bhagavadpada also made self-surrender (prapatti) to Lord Nrisimha.
All these Schools were founded on strong vedic base. Let us not engage ourselves in tiresome arguments. Instead, we may concentrate in understanding our own siddhanta in a better manner and live upto it.
With regards, Yours sincerely, R.Parthiban.
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