I had an interesting discussion with Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Swamiji of Sri Sringeri Mutt, who is my Guru, about 40 years back.
I asked him that if The Veda is the Ultimate Authority, and if all the three Acharyas have taken the same three Mahavakyas to found their systems, why there is a difference in their conclusions?
He replied,
Acharyas know that the dispositions of the Individuals vary.
You will be able to follow things that suits your Nature.And as the Vedas say the Truth is One, but it is spoken of as Many’
(Ekam Sat Vipra bahudha vadanti)
Therefore the Acharyas have provided different approaches to reach God.
One may follow any of these.
There is no question of what is Right and What is Wrong.
That is left to reason, which is useless in Spiritual Development.
You follow what suits you and do not bother.
You are here to realize Brahman, not to prove One is Right and another is wrong”
Of these three approaches, Vaishnavism places importance on The Bhakti Yoga. The Path of Devotion.
The path of devotion is the total surrender to God.
Ramanuja systematized the Bhakti Yoga and popularised the Pancharatra system.
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