My Ravi Anna.... By Sankaranarayan Ambernath
It was the 75th birthday of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. On 15th November 2000 I met one gentleman called Ravi Pichan in Shri. Ramachandra mama’s house at Puttaparthi alongwith Ramesh Menon. At the very first sight we fell in love with Ravi for his endearing nature and started addressing him as “ANNA”. I was with my family, my wife and two sons. Since the house was small, Anna told me that they will move to some other place and we told that we all will stay together. This is the beginning of our relationship. I am sure as Bhagawan used to say there is certainly a connection with Anna in my yester-janmas which again connected me to Anna in this Janma also. On 23rd November 2000 the birthday was celebrated with pomp and glory at Hill view stadium. It took a good time for us to reach home after the program in the night. All reached home back except Anna. My wife Mangalam asked me to go and search for Anna, but I told that he was not new to this place and should be on the way home from the stadium as there was heavy rush. Suddenly Anna knocked the door with a beautiful smile and stretched his hand to me saying “I have got a piece of cake that Bhagawan graciously cut, that too it was a part of Abhayahastha and this is for you”. Nobody will think of sharing this rare prasadam and will always think of sharing the moment and the prasadam with our own kith and kin. I was in tears and told Anna to take a part of the prasadam to home. He politely declined and told Hari, this is for you… Swami has only selected me to reach this to you…. He taught me how to be selfless… tears tickle down even now when I write these lines… When I was upset over not getting a good Darshan of Swami recently at Parthi , Anna used to say “He is seeing you all the time even when you are not at Kulwant Hall or at Parthi, then why do you get upset? Your seeing Him is important, but more than that His seeing you is much more than that. Be happy always”. Whenever Anna came to Parthi, Swami made it a point to see him, touch him or talk to him. Now that Swami has to prepare for his next avatar…He needs Anna with him . Thus Swami snatched away Ravi Anna from us. Finally, never in my life I have come across a person who lived the Sathya Sai principles like the way my dear beloved Ravi Anna did. Anna, I am sure, you must be watching me from a great distance, but what so ever may be the distance you are close to me, close to my heart till I live in this life and also for the many lives to happen. Thank you Anna for all that you have taught me, for the love you have showered on me, for being with me then, now and forever…. Jaisairam.
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