Book Reviews
Sri Sathya Sai Kripasraya,
Under the Umbrella of Divine Grace of Sri Sathya Sai
by B.N. Narasimha Murthy
B.N. Narasimhamurthy is well known to many devotees as the Warden of the Hostel, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Brindavan Campus. This book represents Narasimha Murthy's autobiography from the years 1965-1983. The narrative commences during the student years of Narasimha Murthy, where he encountered Narayan Bhat, affectionately known as 'Anna'; it was Bhat who took the young Murthy to Prashanti Nilayam for his first darshan and meeting with Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
Murthy quickly became a fully committed devotee of Sai Baba, heart and soul. Baba told the young Narasimha Murthy, "Swami will bring you nearer and nearer! He will grant you the good fortune of serving Him." By grace of Swami, Murthy completed his education and lectured engineering in a college at Manipal. His friendship with Narayan Bhat continued.
Bhat founded the Loka Seva Vrinda, an educational service institution set up to teach and form young men to be the future of Mother India; young men formed along the lines of respecting Mother and Father, strong self discipline, good character and formation in the culture and spirituality of India. Such men were taught and formed deeply spiritual, self disciplined teachers who set the example to follow. All teachers were single and celibate.
Into this environment, with the tutelage of Narayan Bhat and the loving care of Mother Sai, entered Murthy, who rose to become the Secretary of the Loka Seva Trust school at Muddenahalli. The narrative halts with Murthy's appointment as Warden of the Hostel at the Prashanti Nilayam Campus of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning.
There are many devotees who write about their experience with Swami. Few write an autobiography which immediately takes you into the spiritual quest and has the reader quaking in fear beside the writer as they await Swami's imagined anger or reprimand. A personal narrative of a humble journey to serve at the Lotus Feet of Sathya Sai Baba.
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Sai Baba's 261 Leelas,
A treasure house of miracles
by Balkrishnan PANDAY
Collection of 261 Stories of Shirdi Sai Baba taken directly from sources. Author has not embellished narrative, and provides stark evocative narration which allows the events to come alive. The author has seen a need to provide a simple collection of many leelas or miracles of Shirdi Sai Baba to assist devotees in following the nine forms of devotion, particularly sravanam, listening to and reading of the acts of the Lord. Although the English in this more resembles "Hindlish", the narrative retains the fulsomeness of the divine utterances and deeds. A quick reference to foster devotion. TOP
Advent III
by Michael J. Hollander
Michael Hollander has been visiting Sathya Sai Baba since 1972, and has authored two previous books in the 'Advent' series. In this volume Hollander gives background to his life as a devotee in the US and details his school life, dissatisfaction with College Football and Varsity ball, and how he dropped out from this and began to constantly reassess what he was living for, and the values he encountered in College life.
Hollander writes about his transformation whilst sitting in darshan; his life events arise internally, and over time,
he resolves his inner conflicts, griefs, and behaviour. A book written with simplicity with an easy to read style, with poetry in every chapter. Gleaning his many years of being a devotee, Hollander writes powerfully on the selflessness of Sathya Sai, the love he has experienced and the meaning of selfless service. Written in a personable, frank and ingenuous style, this book renders powerful truths about what it means to be a devotee of Sathya Sai Baba.
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Unravelling the Enigma
Shirdi Sai Baba in the Light of Sufism
by Marianne Warren
Much literature on Shirdi Sai Baba portrays Shirdi Sai as Hindu saint who had been deemed by the authorities of that time as a fakir. Persian officals and later British adminstrators, used to class all ascetics, Hindu or Muslim, as fakirs. The author has researched the statements of the Hindu biographers that Shirdi Sai was both a Muslim and a mystic, which, by definition as researched by the author, makes him a Sufi.
The material of this mss represents the author's research for a doctorate in Asian Studies. Commencing with the Bhakti movement in the Deccan, the author places Shirdi Sai in the Sufi tradition, finding a close affinity with the sufi saints from the Mughal period onwards, and the life and teachings of Shirdi Sai Baba. Research uncovered an Urdu mss scribed by one assistant of Shirdi Sai, by name of Abdul, which was reportedly written whilst he sat reading the Quran with Sai Baba.
The author notes that Sathya Sai Baba claims to be reincarnation of Shirdi Sai, and claims a triple avatara. Much of this has entered into the popular haiography surrounding the Saint of Shirdi. The author rejects these claims and observes that no fakir or sufi would have worn the ochre kafni as depicted in the Sai Mandir of Prashanti Nilayam. In the introduction, Sathya Sai is dismissed as an upstart riding on the coat-tails of Shirdi Sai. These are rather odd claims for a decidedly academic work which purports to be a doctoral thesis. Nevertheless, the author proposes that Shirdi Sai Baba is both a Perfect Sufi, and 'parama bhagavatha', and puts forward that Sai Baba of Shirdi was a fully God-realised master on a divine mission.
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Sathyam Sivam Sundaram
Volume 5
The offical biography of Sri Sathya Sai Baba is the "Sathyam Sivam Sundaram" series, which cover the life and works of Sathya Sai Baba between birth and 1980. The chronicler of the life of Sai Baba was Sri N Kasturi, who collated and authored the information in the first 4 volumes. Some 25 years have passed since the release of Volume 4. Now, a new volume has been prepared, covering the years 1980-1985.
The author of this volume, and subsequent volumes (upon which work is progressing as we write)is Sri B.N. Narasimhamurthy, warden of the hostel at the Brindavan Campus of the Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. This volume comprises 384 pages, glossary, full chonology of the acts of Sathya Sai Baba for the years 1980-1985. 113 photographs depicting the events and themes in the book. Three of the plates are letters written by Swami himself.
The chapters are set thematically. The first chapter recapitulates the divine self revelation of Baba. The second chaper narrates important events from the early years of Baba's life which were not recorded in earlier volumes of the Sathyam Sivam Sundaram series. Baba's visits to Kashmir and New Delhi follow.
Much of the book is devoted to the founding of the Deemed University, the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, with narrative including students, teachers and administrators in both the University and the Ashram Complex, who all made signal contributions to the magnitude of this project. The genesis of the Hospitals at Puttaparthi and Whitefield are covered, along with the Fourth World Conference of the Sri Sathya Sai Organistion. The last chapter covers the essence of the teachings of Baba given during this period.
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Sathya Sai Baba, a life
by Bill Aitken
Bill Aitken describes himself as a spiritual nomad and has written on travel and tourism for newspapers and magazines in India for several years. He is the author of The Manda Devi Affair, Riding the Ranges and Branch Line to Eternity, as well as travelling over most of India by train. A native of Mussoorie, Aitken writes on the Sai "Parampara" a phrase he uses to describe the 'Sai Tradition' which encompasses Shirdi Sai and Sathya Sai. This 'Parampara' breaks with orthodox tradition in both Islam and Hinduism by facilitating a direct contact with spirit and bypassing the need for priestly and ritual intervention. Read more.
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Sri Sathya Sai Gita
All About Spirituality in Q and A
by P.P. Arya
Since Upanishadic times, the science of the soul and God and the spiritual secrets of realising the Divinity with were taught by the ascetic sages to various seekers. In Dwapara Yuga, it was taught by Krishna to Arjuna in the divine song of compassion, the Bhagavad Gita. In this Kali age, the Avatar Sri Sathya Sai Baba has been showering humanity for more than 60 years with guidance, teaching, discourse and leela. Bhagavan exhorts devotees: utilise the opportunity for association with Me as much as possible, and endeavour as quickly and as best you can, to follow the directions I have been giving. Obeying my instructions is enough. Resolve to keep those ideals before you ever, in all your thoughts, words and deeds.
P.P. Arya, a voluminous writer on the teachings of Sathya Sai Baba here supplies a catechism of the teachings of Sathya Sai Baba. Here are 1001 questions and answers taken from Summer Showers, Sathya Sai Speaks, Vahinis, Conversations with Sathya Sai Baba (Hislop), Sadhana, the Inward Path (Kasturi), and Sanathana Sarathi, (various issues from May 1983 to October 1993).
Topics covered in Questions and Answers include God and Creation, Man and the Universe, Maya, Human Traits and Values, Body Mind Complex, Consciousness Leves (Brahma-Jnana), Atma, Education-Knowledge-Scriptures, Religion and Spirituality, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Buddhi Yoga, Raja Yoga, Dhyana Yoga (Meditation), Aum, Gurus Saints and Sages, Self Realisation, Avatar.
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We Can't ALL Be Sane
by Joseph Olexa
A recent trend in books written by devotees details the tales of Emotional Abuse, Physical Abuse, and Substance Abuse. Joe Olexia tells of his childhood abuse, emotional and social withdrawal and the attendant issues which lie buried within. A stint in the Army highlighted this existing abuse, and Joe took up drinking. One day he chanced upon a Tarot Card Reader, which led to some involvement with the Spiritualist Church.
This in turn led to Joe's discovery of the presence of Sai Baba in India, and thus begins the tale of many many visits to India, sitting in darshan lines awaiting the coveted interview. Over many years, Swami took Joe on a journey of healing all the abuse and rejection within. This book details transference; that is, personal, emotional and spiritual problems are projected from within onto Baba and Baba's behaviour is repetition of those abuses. Joe realised these transferences were occurring. A vividly told tale of simply being unable to stay away from India and Baba, and the simple manner in which Swami graced and healed Joe is told without beg pardons.
A somewhat challenging read, but worthwhile, insofar as one glimpses just how perfectly Baba heals all who come to him and surrender their lives unto Him.
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Veda Pushpãñjali
by M Sai Roopak
In this day and age, if one attends darshan at Prashanti Nilayam, there is one noticeable difference; immediately Swami emerges, students commence chanting. This book, accompanied with CD ROM, provides those chants. It is not unusual to observe those attending darshan to join in the chants, particularly the Sai Gayathri, the Gayathri Mantra, etc, etc. The Chanting always commences with Ganapati Prarthana, and is most familiar to devotees with its distinctive 'Hari Om' at the end. This book makes it possible to 'take it home" so to speak.
This book is simply a collection of mantras. The layout is:
- The mantra is first supplied in sankrit, in Devanagrii
- English Transliteration is supplied underneath in phonetic spelling
- A translation is supplied on the following page.
- A transliteration and pronunciation guide is provided at the rear of the book
A selection of the contents includes, Naryana Upanishad, Taittirya Upanishad, Mahanarayana Upanishad, Purusa suktam, Vishnu suktam, Sri suktam, Bhu suktam, Devi suktam, Rudram camarkam, Bhagya suktam, Hiranyagharba suktam, Mantra pushpam, etc, etc. A small book, with CD for the improbable price of 29 Rupees, from the Ashram bookshop at Prashanti Nilayam, or Brindavan, as the case may be. The aural quality of this CD is excellent, clear, crisp chanting with no background distractions. TOP
Gayatri Mantra
The Mother of the Vedas
based on Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba's Teachings
edited and Compiled by Suresh C. Bhatnagar
In this day and age, if one attends darshan at Prashanti Nilayam, there is one noticeable difference; immediately Swami emerges, students commence chanting. This book, accompanied with CD ROM, provides those chants. It is not unusual to observe those attending darshan to join in the chants, particularly the Sai Gayathri, the Gayathri Mantra, etc, etc. The Chanting always commences with Ganapati Prarthana, and is most familiar to devotees with its distinctive 'Hari Om' at the end. This book makes it possible to 'take it home" so to speak.
This book is simply a collection of mantras. The layout is:
- The mantra is first supplied in sankrit, in Devanagrii
- English Transliteration is supplied underneath in phonetic spelling
- A translation is supplied on the following page.
- A transliteration and pronunciation guide is provided at the rear of the book
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God In Our Midst
Poornavathar Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Dr Hiramalini Seshadri
The author, Dr Hiramalini Seshadri, is a rheumatology specialist, married
to a devotee psychiatrist ("Sai-chiatrist"), and has two children. The doctor is
an author of many articles, both on medicine, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sathya
Sai Baba. Dr Seshadri hails from Chennai.
This is a highly pleasing book, well written and well researched. It opens
with an introductory chapter explaining the notion of incarnations of God, and
avatars. The seven divine qualities of an avatar are listed: omniscience,
omnipresence, omnipotence, all auspiciousness, the name endures forever, whose
grace can accomplish the impossible, and vairagya, detachment and dispassion.
Upon reflection, one may percieve that these qualities are all evident when
Swami gives darshan to his devotees. The author uses a smart metaphor for maya;
maya is like 'special effects' - the driver of the car, instead of being self
aware that he is in the drivers' seat, mistakes him or herself for the car itself!
The chapter on the early years of Sathyanarayana Raju are extraordinarily well
researched and repay close reading. There are some gems in there. I found the
chapter "The World Discovers Sai Baba" a good account of the many early devotees
who visited Prashanti Nilayam from the 1970's and onwards. There is a crisp,
succint account of the writings and leelas of these devotees, commencing
with the Murphets, Howard and Iris.
The journey of the author's family to Prashanti, and the tale of her Father
who, although not a devotee, called Swami his "Friend" of high honour; for he
had accommodated Swami in the 60's during a visit to Kerala. There is a signal
point in this narrative of Seshadri's father for all devotees to note: that
Swami cares for all family members be they devotees or not.
This is a good book, worthy of daily spiritual reading. It blends both the
family narrative and the acts of the Sai avatar in a seamless manner. Highly
reccomended. Worth a second and third read.
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