Om Sai Ram

PARTS I - IV of this series are by N. Kasturi

In this major four-volume biography, Kasturi describes the advent of the divine as Sathya Sai Baba, in human form. Memorable Swamievents and stories, as well as valuable excerpts from Swami's discourses, are woven throughout all four volumes.

PART I covers Swami's life from his birth in 1926 through 1961. It includes background information about Swami' s family and the village of Puttaparthi, stories of many devotees and anecdotes from the past. Details of the miraculous feats of His childhood and the extraordinary beginnings of his mission at age 13 are to be found here.

PART II includes a resume of the years 1926 through 1967. Throughout this volume are references to the words of Shirdi Sai Baba (the previous incarnation of Sathya Sai Baba), revealing the similarity of their teachings and the many instances in which this Baba has fulfilled the predictions of his predecessor. There is a remarkable chapter about Swami' s influence on, and letters to, prisoners.

PART III covers 1968 through 1973. Included are details of wami's journey to Africa, his only trip abroad so far. His talks to throngs in Kenya and Uganda are detailed, as well as his meeting with former dictator Idi Amin. This volume also contains references to Swami's statement about the nature and purpose of his miracles.

PART IV brings the reader up to 1980. Here we find details of Swami's increasing emphasis on education, as evidenced by the summer courses, the building of schools and colleges, and Swami's many references to the true nature of education. We also see in this period the dramatic growth in the number of devotees (including many foreigners) arriving at Prasanthi Nilayam. Prof. Kasturi relates the experiences of Dr. John Hislop, Dr. Samuel Sandweiss, and Charles Penn, among others.