Vahini, in Sanskrit, means "stream". These writings are Swami's streams of thought on a range of subjects: meditation, right action, wisdom, peace, divine love, and Hindu scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads and the story of Rama. The Vahinis originally appeared in the ashram's monthly magazine Sanathana Sarathi (The Eternal Charioteer). (S)
BHAGAVATHA VAHINI
This Vahini is Sathya Sai Baba's retelling of the Srimad Bhagavatam, a Hindu
scripture about the divine incarnations of Vishnu. Here, Swami has chosen to
concentrate on the Avatar of Krishna through the story of King Parikshith,
grandson of the Pandavas --the heroes of the great epic the Mahabharata. Because
Parikshith committed an offensive act in a moment of anger, he is cursed to die
in seven days. Parikshith renounces his throne, desiring to merge with Lord
Krishna. The sage Suka suddenly appears, reciting the glories of Krishna to the
king for seven days and thereby imparting divine knowledge and bliss. The joy
experienced by Parikshith enables him to merge in Krishna at the moment of
death. These stories of Krishna's love and miracles radiate beauty and
sweetness, and divine light pours from every page. To be read and reread. (S)
DHARMA VAHINI
Stream of Righteousness
Dharma is a Sanskrit word with numerous translations. In this volume, Swami
discusses the broadest meaning, that of right action, "the moral path" (SSB), as
it affects the Atma-dharma, (the inner reality). Swami focuses as well on dharma
of women and of the husband and wife, dharma in the temple, and education, and
he provides interesting clarities on the Gayatri Mantra (the ancient universal
Hindu mantra) and the nature of man. (S)
DHYANA VAHINI
Swami defines dhyana (meditation) as the practice that frees the mind of all
instincts and impulses. He tells us that this freedom is itself liberation. It
"will grant individual union with the Godhead" (SSB). Included are suggested
forms of meditation, guidelines for correct practice, related disciplines, and
ways to overcome common pitfalls. (S)
GEETHA VAHINI
Compiled in 1966, this is a collection of articles by Sathya Sai Baba on the
principal teachings of the most famous of Indian scriptures, the Bhagavadh Gita
(the Song of God). In his opening greeting, editor Kasturi notes, "when Arjuna
was overcome with grief at the prospect of the fight, Krishna instructed him in
the science of recognizing one's Oneness with all and removed the grief and
fear." The spiritual practices and attitudes recommended by Krishna in the Gita
are elucidated here by Swami. and concepts such as dharma (right action),
liberation, detachment, the guru-disciple relationship, surrender, and others
are explained with practical significance. (S)
JNANA VAHINI
"Grasping the secret of the universe and its origin -- that is jnana" (SSB).
This is a collection of articles by Sathya Sai Baba on jnana (knowledge,
spiritual wisdom), the power that removes ignorance and reveals true reality.
"It is only when full knowledge is won that one can get liberated" (SSB). From
the delusion of maya (this unreal illusory world) to the realization of Brahman
(God), the language and appropriate practices of the progressive stages of
consciousness leading to jnana are thoroughly explained. But it is devotion that
is singled out by Swami as the chief path to true knowledge. (S)
LEELA KAIVALYA VAHINI
Stream of Cosmic Sport Divine
Published to coincide with Sathya Sai Baba's 65th birthday, this is one of the
more recent of the Vahini series. The preface states that it "is a cool crystal
clear stream that flows from the divine pen of Bhagawan to dissolve all
obstacles like doubts and dogmas, purposeless arguments and flimsy fancies of
the sadhaka (aspirant far spiritual progress)." Through questions and answers
between the spiritual aspirant and Swami, the reader absorbs pertinent knowledge
of ancient scriptures such as the Vedas and Upanishadh, as well as details about
mantras (sacred words), various deities and other aspects of spirituality. (S)
PRASANTHI VAHINI
Baba describes prasanthi (the highest peace) as unwavering bliss, "the absence
of desire and anger, greed, and hatred" (SSB), an attribute of the true Self. In
these writings, published in 1962, Swami demonstrates how we can secure peace,
through the disciplines of sense control, discrimination, self-inquiry,
renunciation and prayer. The text contains definitive discussions on the paths
of devotion and spiritual wisdom as well as vivid explanations of the "who am I"
process of inquiry. (S)
PRASNOTTARA VAHINI
Prasna and uttara signify question and answer; this describes the format Sathya
Sai Baba utilizes in this short book, formerly an appendix to the Geetha Vahini.
Prof. Kasturi, the translator of many of Swami's writings and discourses, states
about the book, "It seeks to elucidate the fundamental concepts and precepts of
religion, especially the technical words and expressions that seek to concretize
them." Subjects include: the body and the senses, the four stages of life,
liberation and karma, education and devotion, obstacles to liberation, spiritual
wisdom and mind control (yoga) the scriptures, mantra (sacred words) and
repetition of God's name, and ascetic practices. (S)
PREMA VAHINI
In the preface to this book on spiritual love (prema), Prof. Kasturi notes: "It
is significant that the very first series of articles that Baba wrote for the
Sanathana Sarathi (the ashram magazine) was Prema Vahini. Truth sathya, right
action (dharma) , peace (shanthi), and love are the four pillars of the new
world of the Sai Era, and under Baba's guidance, humanity has to discover peace,
through love ... For that task, this book will be of immense help; while reading
it you are in touch with the very source of love: while translating its message
into action, you are visibly led by the grace of the Lord Himself." (S)
RAMA KATHA RASAVAHINI, a.k.a. THE RAMA STORY (two volumes) (STREAM OF SACRED
SWEETNESS)
Here Swami retells the story of Lord Rama, the incarnation of God for his time.
Rama came to earth to teach mankind righteousness (dharma) and truth (sathya).
We learn these divine spiritual concepts through Rama's example and through the
dharmic lessons learned by his friends and relatives: his wife Sita, his great
devotee, the monkey Hanuman, his brothers Lakshmana, Bharatha, and Satrughna,
and the evil demon Ravana. This gripping adventure is told with sweetness and
love. To be read and reread. (S)
SANDEHA NIVARINI
Dissolving Doubts. Dialogues with Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
According to Kasturi, Sathya Sai Baba created these unique spiritual dialogues
as part of his divine mission of "consoling, correcting and curing ... . This
series unravel. the mysteries of spiritual truth and lovingly removes the mist
that hides the vision of aspirants." Among the topics addressed by Swami in the
far-ranging questions and answers are: faith, the guru, the Vedas, peace of
mind, spiritual instruction, the name of the Lord, true learning, fault-finding,
the desire far God, effort and prayer, samadhi (total bliss), surmounting
obstacles, the nature of the Atma (the real inner reality), the Gita, and the
Ramayana. (S)
SATHYA SAI VAHINI
The Stream of Divine Sai Grace
This comprehensive text combines Bharathiya Paramartha Vahini (Stream of Indian
Spiritual Values) and Sathya Sai Vahini (Flow of Divine Sai Grace), two series
that Swami wrote on Indian culture and religion. "Every being is divine; this is
the final judgment of the wisdom of Bharath (India)" (SSB). Swami illuminates
this wisdom with explorations of the supreme reality, liberation, castes, karma
and more. The discussions give one a unified view of the science of God
realization that is contained in India's sacred texts, spiritual practices, and
codes of conduct. (S)
UPANlSHAD VAHINI
The Upanishath form a part of the Vedas, India's most ancient spiritual
scriptures. The word Upanishath itself denotes "sitting close to the teacher" as
well as "the study and practice of innate truth" (SSB). As a body of philosophy,
these scriptures are difficult and sometimes elusive. In this collection of
articles compiled in 1968, Sathya Sai Baba explains the teachings of the ten
most prominent Upanishaths. Swami covers a range of topics with practical
relevance to the aspirant, including non-dualism, meditation on the One,
detachment, discrimination, and the attainment of the ultimate reality. This is
a valuable precursor to reading the Upanishaths. (S)
VIDYA VAHINI
Stream of Thought That Illumines
Simple, beautiful, and illuminating, this is Sathya Sai Baba's philosophy of
education, geared to producing students of high integrity who can face the world
with love end nobility. Vidya means "that which illumines" or "knowledge". Swami
illustrates how to use knowledge, as well as the benefits derived from
understanding true vidya, or Atma vidya (the highest knowledge of truth,
goodness, and beauty). Among the issues covered by Swami are: the need for
education to delve into the nature of the Absolute; the importance of the
intensive cultivation of the spirit and the inculcation of human values;
development of character; the teacher's profession and truth; the task of
teachers, parents and society; the benefits of disciplined thought and conduct;
and happiness through awareness of the Atma. This Vahini is a must for everyone
concerned with the state of education today. (S)
online source: http://www.sathyasai.org/inform/desvahini.htm