Good read about Swami Vedanta Desigar

Kavitharkika Simhaya Kalyana Gunasaaline

Srimathe Vedanta Gurave Namaha🙏

This is Vedhantha Desikar Story appeared in Ananda Vikatan Deepavali malar in 70s..

He is Venkatanatha of thuppul. Popularly known to be 'Vedantha Deshika'/Vedanthacharya. A great philosopher, preceptor hailing from the Ramanuja Sampradaya.

He used to go on 'ooncha vrtthi'-collecting of alms. Once few gold coins were mixed along. His wife asks him what are these 'glittering pieces' she finds amidst the rice. Deshika says 'they' are 'worms' and takes a twig n separates them!
It shows the immense 'Vairagya' that he had.

Mr.Gopulu has wonderfully represented the same in the art, he in fact depicts that deshika does not even use his hand to touch those gold coins and uses a stick to push them away just like the way one would use a stick to drive away the worms.

To throw more light kindly read on 'Vairagya Panchaka' a wonderful stotra composed by Deshika for enlightenment.

Thank you.