Sri Ramanujacharya was born during the year 1017 AD. We are celebrating His 1002nd year, this year. Also known as Yathirajar or Emperumanaar, he preached and spread the philosophy of Vishishtadvaitha, or qualified non-dualism, which recognizes the Supreme as one identity and all other attributes as another, different from the One. He taught that the living entity is a part of the Supreme, and his job is to serve the Supreme. Ramanujar preached that sincerely serving the devotees of the Supreme, Lord Narayana, was the highest service and will gain the mercy of the Supreme Himself, in no time.

Ramanujaacharya’s literary works, referred to as the  Navaratnas, include Brahma Sutra Bashyam, Vedanta Sutras, Sriranga Gadyam, Vaikunta Gadyam, Saranagathi Gadyam, Gita Bashyam, Nithya Grantham among others.

Sri Ramanuja Acharya lived until he was a 120 years, and in His lifetime, he had established seventy-four centers for the Sri Vaisnavas and had many thousands of followers, including several kings and many wealthy landowners. Apart from the householders, he numbered amongst his followers 700 sannyasis, 12,000 brahmacaris, and 300 ketti ammas, (ladies who had taken vows of renunciation).