Questions on nature of soul in Vishishtadvaita

[Guest subash]

Dear Sri Vaishnavas,

 

I am from a Smarta Tamil Iyer family, but unfortunately our family traditions are now lost, and we are facing difficult times. I am trying to build exclusive devotion to Krishna/Rama/Narayana. I had a few philosophical questions around Vishishtadvaita. I would really appreciate if any learned person can give me authentic answers.

 

1. Does Vishishtadvaita believe that the individual soul has gender and other characteristics? If not, the descriptions of the spiritual world in Srimad Bhagavatam (Vaikuntham) and Chandogya Upanishad talk about women, birds, plants etc in those worlds. How is this explained in Vishishtadvaita ?

2. Is there any kind of Bheda between Jivas after Moksham ? What is the essential Svarupam of the soul, do all Jivas have the same Swarupam ?

3. Do all Jivas experience the same amount of bliss in Moksham ?

4. Is it acceptable in the Sri Vaishnava tradition to worship Lord Shiva and other deities as devotees of Sriman Narayana, and hence visit their temples with the Bhavam of Sriman Narayana as Antaryami Paramatma? Also if one observes ShivaRatri with the motivation of requesting Lord Shiva for Bhakti to Sriman Narayana, is it disallowed ? Lord Shiva is praised as great devotee in Srimad Bhagavatam.

 

Kindly requesting You to forgive me any Apacharams in advance.

 

warm regards,

subash