The Residents of Anbu Illam
Amma with the residents in January 2003
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"I'm 64, a bachelor and I've been a devotee of
Amma for eight years," says Chandrashekar, a retired
office manager from Calcutta and Anbu Illam resident. "I
often went to Amritapuri and always felt a great attachment
to Amma's teachings. I've nobody to take care of me
and I wanted to be with Amma in my old age. At 65,
how many days are left for us? We should spend time
on spiritual things now.
"Even here I travel outside to attend lectures
by swamis. I'm still trying to catch whatever I can
of the spiritual message!
"We discuss spiritual matters and the brahmacharis
do lovely bhajans with us. We also do a little pranayama
every day.
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"I'm healthy and still active. We get
up at 4 a.m. and share the cleaning, help with
the cooking, tend the garden. We all do something.
A doctor comes every week and checks our blood
pressure and any problems like diabetes. He doesn't
charge anything. I feel like this is my home
and these are my brother and sisters."
Muthulaksmi is one of the newer arrivals. When
she arrived, she was extremely timid and afraid
of everything. She is only 60 and is recovering
well and has even started to meditate a little. "My
brother is a devotee of Amma, and he told me
about this place," she says. "I had
a lot of problems with my husband and there were
many family traumas going on. I wanted to get
away. Here I don't feel frightened anymore. I
wish to stay here till my last breath." |
Duraipandiyan was Anbu Illam's first resident. "I
have known Amma for a long time and used to go
to Amritapuri, so I knew about the project. I'm
from Madurai, my wife is dead and we had no children.
So I asked if I could come. I was the first to
arrive and had Amma's darshan when She came for
the inauguration. I was so happy. With her blessing
I can stay here in Her ashram." |
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