Sri Vaishnavism centers on the conviction that Vishnu, especially in the form of Narayana and inseparably associated with Lakshmi, is the supreme, personal Brahman and the ultimate reality. He is regarded as the source and sustainer of the universe, endowed with all auspicious qualities, and as the highest object of love and worship. The tradition understands the individual souls and the universe as real and eternal, yet wholly dependent on Vishnu, existing as his modes or attributes rather than as independent entities. This vision, articulated through Ramanuja’s Vishishtadvaita, preserves both the unity of the divine and the genuine reality of the many.

Within this framework, the highest human goal is liberation, understood as eternal, loving service and enjoyment of Vishnu in his divine realm, rather than dissolution into an impersonal absolute. The path to such liberation is not grounded in intellectual knowledge alone, but in unwavering devotion (bhakti) joined with complete surrender (prapatti or sharanagati) to Vishnu. This surrender entails recognizing total dependence on his compassion and grace, rather than relying solely on personal effort. Through this devoted self-offering, the soul is drawn by divine mercy into a relationship of intimate service, which is seen as both the means to liberation and its everlasting fulfillment.