In the news, India’s Prime Minister is set to inaugurate the Statue of Equality, a statue dedicated to Ramanujacharya on the outskirts of Hyderabad, Telangana. The inauguration comes as part of the celebrations of Ramanujacharya’s 1,000th birth anniversary – an event known as the ‘Festival of Equality’. This festival signifies the belief that the world forms one cohesive family, also referred to as ‘vasudhaiva kutumbakam’.
Statue of Equality: An Overview
The Statue of Equality, which stands at a towering height of 216 feet, is among the tallest metallic statues worldwide, designed in a seated posture. It is crafted from ‘panchaloha’, a unique blend of five metals, namely gold, silver, copper, brass, and zinc. Elevated by a 54-feet high base building named ‘Bhadra Vedi,’ the statue accommodates devoted floors for a digital Vedic library and research center, repositories of ancient Indian texts, a theater, and an educational gallery exhibiting the numerous works of Sri Ramanujacharya.
The Life and Influence of Ramanujacharya
Born in 1017 in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, Ramanujacharya is regarded as a social reformer and a Vedic philosopher. Originally named Lakshmana, he was also addressed as Ilaya Perumal, denoting ‘the radiant one.’ Throughout his life, Ramanujacharya traversed across India, advocating for equality and social justice. He breathed new life into the Bhakti movement, and his teachings deeply influenced other Bhakti schools of thought. Renowned poets like Annamacharya, Bhakta Ramdas, Thyagaraja, Kabir, and Meerabai drew their inspiration from him. Ramanujacharya is best remembered for advocating Vishishtadvaita, a non-dualistic school of Vedanta philosophy characterized by its unique tenets.
Ramanujacharya wrote prolifically, producing nine scriptures known as the navaratnas and composing numerous commentaries on Vedic scriptures. His most notable works include his commentary on the Vedanta Sutras (the Sri Bhasya, or “”True Commentary””), the Bhagavad-Gita (the Gitabhasya, or “”Commentary on the Gita””), the Vedartha Samgraha (“”Summary of the Meaning of the Veda””), the Vedantasara (“”Essence of Vedanta””), and Vedantadipa (“”Lamp of Vedanta””). He also advocated for living in harmony with nature and against overexploitation.
Rationale Behind Naming it as the Statue of Equality
Known for his advocacy of social equality, Ramanujacharya encouraged temples to welcome everyone, irrespective of caste or societal status. At a time when many castes faced discrimination and were denied entry into sacred spaces, Ramanujacharya took education to the deprived and marginalized. His greatest contribution was the propagation of the concept of “vasudhaiva kutumbakam”, symbolizing the unity of the universe as one family.
Traveling across India, he used temple podiums to spread his vision of social equality and universal brotherhood. Ramanujacharya engaged with the socially marginalized and oppressed, urging royal courts to treat them as equals. He advocated universal salvation through God’s devotion, compassion, humility, equality, and mutual respect, forming the bedrock of the Sri Vaishnavam Sampradaya. Ramanujacharya fought against social, cultural, gender, educational, and economic discrimination, underlining the belief in human equality, regardless of nationality, gender, race, caste, or creed.
