Vedāntadeśika’s Systematization of Rāmānuja’s Self-surrender (prapatti): A Study Based on the Nikṣeparakṣā

Abstract

This article examines the Śrīvaiṣṇava validation of the doctrine of self-surrender to the Supreme God Viṣṇu (prapatti). Prapatti is mentioned by Rāmānuja (traditional dates: circa 1017–1137 CE), the most authoritative teacher (ācārya) of the tradition, as an auxiliary to the path of devotion (bhaktiyoga) that he teaches as a means to mokṣa. After the time of Rāmānuja, prapatti was developed as an alternative means. However, the post-Rāmānuja teachers were committed to arguing that Rāmānuja teaches prapatti as an independent means. The article focuses on Vedāntadeśika (traditional dates: circa 1268–1369 CE), the most influential post-Rāmānuja teacher, and his interpretation of Rāmānuja’s prapatti as a teaching of soteriological prapatti in Vedāntadeśika’s under-researched Nikṣeparakṣā. Vedāntadeśika’s interpretation reflects his harmonization of Rāmānuja’s ambivalent statements regarding prapatti and synthetization of traditional authorities. This study thus contributes to the understanding of Vedāntadeśika’s Nikṣeparakṣā and its development of the doctrine of prapatti and to his critical role in systematizing this doctrine.