Śrī and Viṣṇu: One God in Two Persons
Issued Date: 27 Nov 2014
Abstract
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity arose from the need to reconcile the divinity of Jesus with monotheism. Śrīvaiṣṇava theologians faced a similar problem with their belief in the Goddess Śrī or Lakṣmī and her husband Viṣṇu or Nārāyaṇa as two distinct deities in one godhead. The article examines the ways in which the divinity of Śrī and her oneness with Viṣṇu are upheld, using Rāmānuja’s Śaraṇāgati-gadya, Vedānta Deśika’s Rahasyatrayasāra, and Lokācārya Pillai’s Mumukṣupadi. It then presents some of the scriptural sources and philosophical concepts with which the theologians support their position. In conclusion, the doctrine is briefly compared with the Christian Trinity and the Śaiva ardhanarīśvara.
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References
Annangaracharya Swamy, Śrī Kanchi P. B. (ed.) 1956. Śrī Bhagavad Rāmānuja Granthamālā. Kancheepuram: Granthamala Office.
Chari, Srinivasa. 1994. Vaiṣṇavism: Its Philosophy, Theology and Religious Discipline. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.
Clooney, F. X., SJ. 2005. Divine Mother, Blessed Mother: Hindu Goddesses and the Virgin Mary. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Dasgupta, S. N. 1922. A History of Indian Philosophy, vol. 1. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Goldberg, Ellen. 2002. The Lord Who is Half Woman: Ardhanarisvara in Indian and Feminist Perspective. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.
Iyengar, M. B. Narasimha (trans.) 1962. Mumukshupadi of Pillai Lokacharya. Madras: Education Publishing Co.
Klostermaier, K. 1995. ‘Śrī-Tattva: The Goddess Principle.’ Journal of Vaiṣṇava Studies 4 (1): 21–36.
LaCugna, C. M. 1987. ‘Trinity’. In M. Eliade (ed.), The Encyclopedia of Religion: vol. 15, 53–57. 16 vols. Chicago: Chicago University Press.
Rāghavācārya (Śrī Jagadguru Śrī Rāmānuja-Sampradāya-Ācārya Ācāryapīṭha-Adhipati Rāghavācārya Swāmijī Mahārāja). 1973. ‘Śrī Tattva’ (in Hindi, with many Sanskrit quotations). Viṣṇu-aṅka, Kalyāna 47: 203–11. All page references in this article are to my English translation (Klostermaier 1995).
Rajagopala Ayyangar, M. R. (trans.) 1956. Śrīmad Rahasyatrayasāra of Śrī Vedānta Deśika. Kumbakonam: Agnihotram Rāmanremainsuja Tathachariar.
Chari, Srinivasa. 1994. Vaiṣṇavism: Its Philosophy, Theology and Religious Discipline. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.
Clooney, F. X., SJ. 2005. Divine Mother, Blessed Mother: Hindu Goddesses and the Virgin Mary. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Dasgupta, S. N. 1922. A History of Indian Philosophy, vol. 1. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Goldberg, Ellen. 2002. The Lord Who is Half Woman: Ardhanarisvara in Indian and Feminist Perspective. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.
Iyengar, M. B. Narasimha (trans.) 1962. Mumukshupadi of Pillai Lokacharya. Madras: Education Publishing Co.
Klostermaier, K. 1995. ‘Śrī-Tattva: The Goddess Principle.’ Journal of Vaiṣṇava Studies 4 (1): 21–36.
LaCugna, C. M. 1987. ‘Trinity’. In M. Eliade (ed.), The Encyclopedia of Religion: vol. 15, 53–57. 16 vols. Chicago: Chicago University Press.
Rāghavācārya (Śrī Jagadguru Śrī Rāmānuja-Sampradāya-Ācārya Ācāryapīṭha-Adhipati Rāghavācārya Swāmijī Mahārāja). 1973. ‘Śrī Tattva’ (in Hindi, with many Sanskrit quotations). Viṣṇu-aṅka, Kalyāna 47: 203–11. All page references in this article are to my English translation (Klostermaier 1995).
Rajagopala Ayyangar, M. R. (trans.) 1956. Śrīmad Rahasyatrayasāra of Śrī Vedānta Deśika. Kumbakonam: Agnihotram Rāmanremainsuja Tathachariar.
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