Ramanuja (traditionally, 1017–1137 CE) was a Hindu theologian, philosopher, and
scriptural exegete, born in a
Tamil family in the village of
Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. He is also known as
Sri Ramanujacharya,
Udayavar,
Ethirajar (Yatiraja),
Emberumannar and
Lakshmana Muni-Kunju. His descendants are known as "swayamacharya" (which is also a division in Iyengar community). He is seen by
Sri Vaishnavism as the most important
acharya (teacher) of their tradition who followed
Nathamuni and
Yamunacharya, and by Hindus in general as the leading expounder of
Vishishtadvaita, one of the classical interpretations of the dominant
Vedanta school of
Vedic philosophy.