The works of Ramanujacharya (Laxmanacharya) - Shribhashya or Mahabhashya upon the Vyaas Sutras (Shariika Sutra) and Geetabhashya are accepted here by Lord Swaminarayan as his Vedantic philosophy. They are considered as his Adhyatmika Shastra as they glorify the greatness of Gods ‘Sakar’ (with form) nature. For this reason they should be studied and heard.
Other Acharyas including Shankaracharya have also written Bhashyas upon these works. However Shatanand points out that Ramanuja’s Bhashyas should always be considered as the greater.
Ramanujacharya was born in 1017 in Perumbudur (south India). He is the founder of the Vedantic Philosophy known as Vishishtadvaita (Qualified Non - dualism). He displayed the signs of Laxman (Rama’s younger brother) and hence was named Laxmanacharya and Ramanujacharya. (Ramanuja meaning the younger of Rama).
From a young age he began his studies from his father and later under the guidance of Shri Yadavacharya (an Avaita teacher). Through difference in views, Ramanuja was driven out of the Ashram and began study on his own. He then received Diksha from Yamunacharya and was then able to nurture his philosophy.
At the death-bed of Yamunacharya, an enigma was present. Yamunacharya’s three fingers were curved shut and would not open. However Ramanuja solved the enigma by saying ‘Yamunacharya desires that (i) somebody should write a commentary upon the Brahman Sutras, (ii) bring back the idol of Lord Vishnu from the emperor of India and (iii) spread the philosophy of Vishishtadvaita. So saying all three fingers of Yamunacharya straightened.
Ramanuja then fulfilled his three obligations and became famed as Ramanujacharya - the founders of Vishishtadvaita philosophy.
Note that Swami Ramananda received Diksha from the very same Ramanuja in dream, after leaving Atmananda Swami’s Ashram due to disbelief in the ‘Advaita’ philosophy of Shankaracharya.