While small, what makes this bronze sculptural image evocatively powerful is the fact that it manifests the idea that the divine does not only rest with our gods and goddesses, but also in the spirit of mortal humans – like Swami Ramanuja. As one of the most acclaimed and distinguished theologists of Hindu philosophy, his teachings laid the ground realities of not only the Shri Vaishnavism tradition, but also the Bhakti movement. The iconic image of Narayana, or Vishnu, is placed over Ramanuja’s lap which he embraces in loving devotion. Narayana’s four arms are carrying the ’sudarshana chakra,’ the conch, the ‘kaumodaki’ mace, and raised in the ‘abhaya mudra’ fear dispelling gesture.

Ramanuja’s teachings of the Vishishitadvaita, or the qualified non-dualism, along with the Dvaita and Advaita traditions constitute the most important Vaishnavite philosophies, and his disciples have also said to have authored the Shatyayaniya Upanishada. The one thing missing from this image is the ‘Tridandam’ flag that the ascetic Swami carries – which can be seen in this bronze image of the theologian.