THE VAISHNAVAS - SRI SAMPRADAYINS

[Ms Tercy Lonan]

THE VAISHNAVAS
SRI SAMPRADAYINS
The Vaishnavas are usually distinguished into four principal Sampradayas or sects. Of
these, the most ancient is the Sri Sampradaya founded by Ramanuja Acharya. The followers of
Ramanuja adore Vishnu and Lakshmi, and their incarnations. They are called Ramanujas or Sri
Sampradayins or Sri Vaishnavas. They all repeat the Ashtakshara Mantra: ‘Om Namo
Narayanaya.’ They put on two white vertical lines and a central red line on the forehead.
Vedanta Desika, a follower of Ramanuja, introduced some reform in the Vaishnava faith.
This gave rise to the formation of two parties of Ramanujas, one called the Northern School
(Vadagalai) and the other the Southern School (Tengalai). The Tengalais regard Prapatti or
self-surrender as the only way to salvation. The Vadagalais think that it is only one of the ways.
According to them, the Bhakta or devotee is like the young one of a monkey which has to exert itself
and cling to its mother (Markata-Nyaya or Monkey Theory); whereas, according to the Southern
School, the Bhakta or devotee is like the kitten which is carried about by the cat without any effort
on its own part (Marjala-Nyaya or Cat-hold Theory). The Northern School accept the Sanskrit texts,
the Vedas. The Southerners have compiled a Veda of their own called ‘Nalayira Prabandha’ or
‘Four Thousand Sacred Verses’, in Tamil, and hold it to be older than the Sanskrit Vedas. Really,
their four thousand verses are based on the Upanishad portion of the Vedas. In all their worship,
they repeat sections from their Tamil verses.
The Vadagalais regard Lakshmi as the consort of Vishnu. Herself infinite, uncreated and
equally to be adored as a means (Upaya) for release. The Tengalais regard Lakshmi as a created
female being, though divine. According to them, she acts as a mediator or minister (Purushakara),
and not as an equal channel of release.
The two sects have different frontal marks. The Vadagalais make a simple white line curved
like the letter U to represent the sole of the right foot of Lord Vishnu, the source of the Ganga. They
add a central red mark as a symbol of Lakshmi. The Tengalais make a white mark like the letter Y
which represents both the feet of Lord Vishnu. They draw a white line half down the nose.
Both the sects brand the emblems of Vishnu—the discus and the conch—on their breasts,
shoulders and arms.
The Tengalais prohibit their widows from shaving the head.
The usual surnames of the Ramanuja Brahmins are Aiyangar, Acharya, Charlu and
Acharlu.