Sribhashyam

This is a detailed commentary on Brahmasutras. This is the magnum opus of Ramanuja's works. He has revitalized the philosophy of Visistadvaita in this work explaining clearly the fundamental concepts viz. Sarirasiribhava, Sugunabrahma and Prapatti. In the course of the text, the author critically examines and shows the untenability of other schools of thought.

Sri Ramanujacharya has written 9 important works viz Sribhashya, Vedarthasangraha, Vedantasara, Vedantadipa, Gitabhashya, Saranagatigadya, Srirangagadya, Vaikunthagadya and Nityagrantha. These works have been edited quite a number of times in order to reach them to the modern readers.

Vedantadipa

Vedantadipa is a concise commentary on the Brahmasutras and gives all the Visayavakyas, Visaya, Purvapaksha and Siddhanta. It is an epitome of the Sribhashyam.

Vedantasara

Vedantasara is a brief commentary on the Brahmasutras. It gives only the exact meaning of the sutras and the quintessence of the adhikaranas.

Gitabhashyam

It is a commentary on the Bhagavadgita. Ramanuja enunciates that Bhakti is the central theme which leads to the attainment of the highest reality in this work. The first six chapters of the Gita are, in Ramanuja's opinion, devoted to the exposition of the method of self-realization on the part of the individual self. The proper order of progression in this process consists of the intellectual understanding of the nature of self, the pursuit of Karmayoga and Jnanayoga. The second group of six chapters deals with Bhaktiyoga which issues out on self-realization as described in the first group. The object of Bhakti is God and His nature and attributes. The third group accomplishes an intellectual clarification of the nature of Prakriti, Purusa and Purusottama, bringing out the supremacy of Bhaktiyoga.

Vedantasangraha

Vedantasangraha without the usual divisions of chapters, brings out the total vision of the Upanishads, discussing many a controversial text and contradictory view.

Ramanuja attempts to systematize and reconcile the differing views of the Upanishads, taking cue from the ancient philosophers like Bodhayana, Dramida, Tanka etc. He recognizes three distinctive lines of thought expressed by passages - analytical, mediating and synthetic. On the authority of the mediating passages, Ramanuja declares that the Upanisadic passages do not contradict one another as the individual selves and the world, forming the body of Brahman, do not admit the distinction of names and forms in their casual state, while in the effected state they process distinct character. In support of his views, Ramanuja regularly quotes the following Upanishads - Isa, Katha, Mundaka, Aitareya, Taittiriya, Chandogya, Brihadaranyaka, Kausataki, Svetaasvatara, Arharvasikha, Subala and Mantrika.

In this independent exposition of the philosophy of the Upanishads, the central concepts of Brahman, Bhakti and Moksha have been expounded.

Gadyatrayam

(a) Saranaagatigadya : A devotional lyric in the form of prose expounding the concept of self - surrender at the lotus feet of Narayana. This begins with a prayer to Mahalakshmi, the Consort of Sri Ranganatha and the divine mediatrix between the devotee and the Lord.

(b) Srirangagadya : After surrendering at the lotus feet of the Lord, Ramanuja prays to Lord Sriranganatha to accept him as devotee as he is the only Lord. Sri Ranganatha is pleased with his single minded and ardent prayer and grants him his request.

(c) Srivaikunthagadya : The last of the three prose lyrics composed by Ramanuja. It depicts the main tenets of Vishishtadvaita school of Philosophy describing in detail the celestial abode of the Lord i.e., Vaikuntham.