on the philosophy, but on some aspects of the theology, giving rise to the Vadakalai and Thenkalai schools of thought. Swaminarayan, the founder of Swaminarayan Sampraday, propagated a related philosophy, and based the Swaminarayan Sampraday (original name is Uddhava Sampraday) partly on these ideals. Key principles There are three key principles of Vishishtadvaita: Tattva: The knowledge of the 3 real entities namely, jiva (living souls; the sentient); ajiva (the nonsentient) and Ishvara (Vishnu-Narayana or Parahbrahman, Supreme-self and the cause of all manifestations and in-dwelling giver of grace based on Karma). Hita: The means of realization, as through bhakti (devotion) and prapatti (self-surrender) Purushartha: The goal to be attained, as moksha or liberation from bondage. Vivishta means most exclusive (not equal / different from rest). Epistemology Pramanas Pramana refers to the correct knowledge, arrived by thorough reasoning, of any object. Pramana ("sources of knowledge", Sanskrit) forms one part of a triputi (trio). Pramatir, the subject; the knower of the knowledge Pramana, the cause or the means of the knowledge Prameya, the object of knowledge In Vishishtadvaita Vedanta, only the following three pramanas are accepted as valid means of knowledge: Pratyaksa — the knowledge gained by means of perception. Perception refers to knowledge obtained by cognition of external objects based on sensory perception. In modern-day usage this will also include knowledge obtained by means of observation through scientific instruments since they are an extension of perception. Anumana — the knowledge gained by means of inference. Inference refers to knowledge obtained by deductive reasoning and analysis. Shabda — the knowledge gained by means of shruti. Shruti refers to knowledge gained from scriptures - primarily the Upanishads, the Brahma Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita. Rules of epistemology There are three rules of hierarchy when there is apparent conflict between the three modes of acquiring knowledge: Shabda or Shruti, Pramana occupies the highest position in matters which cannot be settled or resolved by pratyaksa (perception) or by anumana (inference). Anumana occupies the next position. When an issue cannot be settled through sensory perception alone, it is settled based on inference, that is, whichever is the more logical argument. When pratyaksa yields a definitive position on a particular issue, such a perception cannot be ignored by interpreting Shabda in a way which violates that perception. Metaphysics Ontology The ontology in Vishishtadvaita consists of explaining the relationship between Ishvara (Parabrahman), the sentient beings (chit-brahman) and the insentient