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vastu paitAmahaM dhanam

From the Bhakti List Archives

Balaji CG • June 25, 2002 


Swamy Deshikan THiruvadigale Sharanam !!!

"nAsti pitrArjitam kinchit na mayA kinchitdArjitam.
 asti me hastishailAgre vastu paitAmahaM dhanam ."

This is a very famous verse from Vairagya Panchakam
composed by the mighty Swamy Deshikan.

Commentators attribute this to mean that -
"Neither have I inherited anything from my ancestors
nor have I earned anything for myself. But on top of
the elephant hill does lie, the treasure of my grand
father !"

Swamy Dehsikan had least interest in acquiring
anything considered materialistic in this world.
Neither did he inherit anything from his ancestors nor
did he try to earn anything materialistic for himself.
All that he considered his great treasure was none
other than Varada on top of the elephant hill
(Hastigiri).

It may be interesting to note that "paitAmaham" is
attributed to Brahma here, who performed the great
yagna from which did emerge Lord Varada.

A parallel thought on the usage of "paitAmaham" is
equally interesting.
As far as history goes, Swamy Deshikan's paternal
lineage could be traced as follows -

Anantha Somayaji
Pundarikaksha
Ananthasuri
Venkatanathacharya (Swamy Deshikan)

Anantha Somayaji was a great scholar and one of the 74
simhasanadhipatis appointed by Bhagavad Ramanuja. He
lived in Kanchipuram and worshipped Varada as his kula
daivam. It is through this lineage mentioned above
that Swamy Deshikan inherited a murthy of Lord Varada
which he worshipped along with Lakshmi Hayagrivar.

During the end of his life, he gave Lakshmi Hayagrivar
to Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar and the murthy of
Varada to his son Sri Nayanaracharya.

With this info in place, scholars are also of the
impression that when Swamy Deshikan says "vastu
paitAmaham dhanam" it also means the murthy of Varada
he inherited from his paternal great grand father
Anantha Somayaji.

vAzhi vyAkhyAmuddirak kai !!!
vedAnthasUri charaNau sharaNam prapadye !!!




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