Ramanuja was influenced by the ________.

Ramanuja was influenced by the Alvars, a group of twelve Tamil poet-saints who were deeply devoted to Lord Vishnu. The Alvars played a significant role in shaping the Bhakti movement in South India, emphasizing personal devotion and love for God as the path to salvation. Their hymns, collectively known as the Divya Prabandham, were a major inspiration for Ramanuja's philosophical and devotional teachings.

Ramanuja integrated the teachings of the Alvars into his Vishishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism) philosophy. He emphasized the concept of surrender (prapatti) to Vishnu and highlighted devotion (bhakti) as the highest form of worship. The Alvars' focus on equality and devotion deeply influenced Ramanuja's inclusive vision of spirituality, where people from all backgrounds could attain liberation through love and service to God. This fusion of philosophy and devotion had a lasting impact on the Bhakti tradition in India.