With a heavy heart, I have to share the news that dear Anna Sri Ra. Ganapathi, attained the lotus feet of Shri Maha Periyava on Sri Maha Sivarathri Night - Monday 20 th Feb 2012 at 7.30 p.m. in Chennai
Anna , a great scholar and an encyclopedia of Hinduism was one of the primary disciples of Shri Kanchi Maha Swamigal. It is he who brought out Deivathin Kural comprising of Sri Maha Perivaa’s teachings and many other books. The lectures given by him over a period of time since 1932 were meticulously collected by Shri Ra. Ganapathi. He painstakingly covered all the discourses, conversations etc of the Maha Periyava over several years and with a very great effort he penned each and every word of Mahaperiayava. Each volume contains nearly 700 pages and has extensive, in-depth material on various aspects of Sanatana Darma. These publications entitled ‘Deyvathin Kural’ have almost proved to be the encyclopedia of the Hindu Religion. It is not an exaggeration to say that its actually Shri. Ganapati who simplified the teachings of Periyava and took it to the people of all ages
He came in contact with Paramacharya at a very young age and received his guidance at every step. He undertook Srividya Upasana under the guidance of his father. An ardent worshipper of Amba in the form of Sri Soolini Durgamba. He has thousands of loving admirers who have received invaluable guidance from him through his writings.
He composed many remarkable works on Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Vivekanandha, Ramana Maharshi. His books on Devi like Kamakshi Katakshi, Shri Matha and Navaratri Naayaki - are unforgettabale which imbibed both the devotion and philosophy on Shakta Upasana. (One cannot forget the 90+ page preface given for the book - Navaratri Nayaki - which gives the juice of Devi Upasana)
He was very close to Shri Sathya Saibaba and remained his most trusted devotee. Sri Anna, apart from being a scholar par excellence, was also a composer and has composed few songs which were rendered by Smt. MS. Subbalakshmi.
Blessed am I to have personally known one such advanced soul. Sri Ra.Ganapati was the mentor or the guiding spirit behind my writings. I fondly remember that when I met him for the first time, when he heard my name - he immediately gave a reply "Subramanyam manifested on six Aravindams(lotus) and later became ONE; thats Aravinda Subramanyam" . When I took my book "Shri Maha Sastha Vijayam" to him, he immediately quoted "Aaruda Prauda" sloka and explained its significance. From that day he used to call me "Sastha".
Anna Ra. Ganapati who was a Naishtika Bramachari; After a brief discomfort for the last few days, he was sure that he is spending his past Karmas and getting ready for the departure. So he turned down the medical treatment .
Though Iam sure he would have attained Mukti, Its our duty to keep him in our prayers for the countless readers who got benefited out of his books to follow.
Our Sangam offers ananta koti pranams to Sri Ra.Ganapati Anna and prayers to Maha Periyava to grant strength to every devotee to bear the immense loss.