Q. The world's second tallest statue in sitting pose of Ramanuja was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India at Hyderabad recently. Which one of the following statements correctly represents the teachings of Ramanuja? (UPSC Prelims 2022)
Answer: The best means of salvation was devotion.
Notes: The correct answer is [A] The best means of salvation was devotion. This refers to the Statue of Equality in Hyderabad, which commemorates the 11th-century Bhakti saint Ramanuja.

• Devotion (Statement A – Correct): Ramanuja was the leading exponent of the Vishishtadvaita (qualified monism) school of Vedanta. He taught that Bhakti (intense devotion) to Lord Vishnu was the primary path to salvation (moksha). Unlike some earlier schools, he emphasized that the grace of God is essential for liberation.
• Vedas and Authority (Statement B – Incorrect): While Ramanuja respected the Vedas, this specific description (eternal and self-existent) is more characteristic of the Mimamsa school of philosophy. Ramanuja's focus was on the synthesis of the Vedas and the Tamil Prabandhams (the Ubhaya Vedanta).
• Logical Arguments (Statement C – Incorrect): Although Ramanuja was a brilliant logician who wrote the Sri Bhashya, he argued that logic alone cannot lead to the highest bliss. He believed that Brahman is known through scripture and realized through devotion, not just intellectual gymnastics.
• Meditation (Statement D – Incorrect): While meditation (dhyana) was part of his practice, Ramanuja specifically advocated for Prapatti (total surrender) and Bhakti over the abstract, knowledge-based meditation (Jnana-marga) popularized by Adi Shankara.

Historically, Ramanuja was a great social reformer who challenged the rigid caste system by opening temple entry to the marginalized and emphasizing that spiritual liberation was available to all, regardless of social status.