The Rose Fire of Heaven - By Krishna Nandan Sinha

Krishna attained mahasamadhi on February 20, 3102 B.C., and Sathya Sai Baba was born on November 23, 1926. Sri Aurobindo, who was working incessantly to bring Krishna consciousness on earth, celebrated Victory Day on November 24, 1926, as his goal was achieved with the advent of Sathya Sai Baba, a major and full avatar with 16 kalas or phases. The advent of a poornavatar after bearly 5,000 years was the fulfilment of the promise and pledge given to sage Bharadwaja by Lord Shiva way back in the Treta Yuga that Shiva and Shakti would incarnate in the Bharadwaja lineage thrice in the Kali Yuga: Shiva alone as Sai Baba at Shirdi; Shiva and Shakti together as Sathya Sai Baba at Puttaparthi and Shakti alone as Prema Sai. Sathya Sai Baba, like Krishna in the Gita, announced his Divinity on May 17, 1968 at the world conference of Sathya Sai Service Organisation: This is a human form in which every Divine Entity, every Divine Principle, that is, all names and forms ascribed by man to God, are manifest.' Baba also made a startling declaration about the prophecy made by Jesus Christ about his Second Coming. He said: "Christ's statement was simple. 'He who made me will come again. His name will be Truth. He will be short, with a crown of hair. He will wear a red robe, a blood-red robe. The lamb is a symbol of love and the voice Ba Ba." That Baba is Sai Baba, the short, curly-haired, the red-robed Baba has come again.

This book is an objective, fully-documented, authentic and moving account of Infinite, Immeasurable, Unique and Incomparable Sai Baba, who is the single flame and multifoliate rose, the very quintessence of Divinity. Poets like Dante end Eliot have visualised the Divine as the Fire and the Rose. Written by a close devotee, who has served at Baba's lotus feet for quarter of a century, this book is a testament of rare beauty, feeling and devotion.

Professor Krishna Nandan Sinha seemed destined to write this book as he was inspired in mysterious and inexplicable ways to put it together. With a doctorate in English literature from Arkansas University, USA, Professor Sinha formerly headed the English department at University of Bihur Muzaffarpur and Sri Satya Sai institute of Higher Learning at Prasanti Nilayam University in Andhra Pradesh.

This is the 2nd book written by Mr. Sinha on Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the first one being "Sri Sathya Sai Baba: Absolute Sole Lord of Life and Death". The author has a doctorate in English literature from an American University and extensive experience of working at different educational institutions including the last one for over two decades at Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. He has presented Baba’s glory and message in an articulate style of writing. He has also used suitable quotes of spiritually inspired poets like Dante and Eliot extensively throughout the book. The book starts with a brief account of life of both Shirdi Baba and Sri Sathya Sai Baba. He then describes some of the major miraculous events that took place in the lives of well-known devotees of Baba including himself and subsequent transformation that took place in their lives. The author who was in the jaws of death due to a severe paralytic stroke, high blood pressure and the loss of eyesight was answered his heartfelt and intensive prayers by Sri Sathya Sai Baba and cured completely so that he could continue to be His humble instrument. The author has also written at length about Baba’s divine teachings including the programme of education in human values with ample and authentic quotes from Sri Sathya Sai Baba in the later chapters of this book.

— Review by Gopal Mehta

http://www.saibooks.org/newsletters/2002/jun02.htm

This is Mr. Krishna Nandan Sinha's second book. Quoting the author, the central thrust of this book is to demonstrate and show beyond any shadow of doubt that Sathya Sai Baba is the single flame, the one God, the formless God who incarnates in the phenomenal world as Rama, Krishna, Buddha and Jesus Christ. This he does whenever crisis threatens to engulf humanity, when the evil forces dominate, subdue and annihilate the good, the virtuous and the pious.

Mr. Sinha, in his usual style, quotes many great poets, including Hymn to Saint Teresa by Richard Crashaw. Mr. Sinha also refers to the celebrated essay on Dante by Eliot to say that there cannot be a better or more masterly imagery than that of light to express the unknown, inexpressible and unidentifiable.

Mr. Sinha has also quoted a few of Baba's miracles from the sea of experiences of several aspirants, including one that describes the resurrection of a devotee. There are other miracles described in this book notably the one, when the governor of an Indian state and his wife were saved from a train fire. There are comparisons made to similar resurrections performed by Christ and other Avatars. The author explains why Bhagawan Baba bestows such miracles, signs and wonders to only some of the aspirants. In the chapter of 'Four Quartets Of Moral Virtues' it is very interesting to note the author’s comparison of ‘The Ninth Symphony’ in ‘The Last Quarters' of Beethoven to Baba's teachings. In the final analysis, this is a very good book on Bhagawan Baba.

— Ken Narayan

http://saitowers.com/spi/magazine/julaug2001/review.htm

The book is available at:

Sri Sathya Sai Book and Information Centre, Toronto, Canada
http://www.saibooks.org/

Sai Towers Publishing
http://puttaparthi.info/shopping/books/

Jai Sai Ram Books
http://www.jaisairambooks.com/JaiSaiRamBooks.html

Sathya Sai Publications, Auckland, NZ
http://www.sathyasai.org.nz/booksforsale.htm

Saujanya Books
http://www.saujanyabooks.com/