Chapter 42 discusses the timing of Baba's departure with references to different calendars and lunar days. How does it reconcile these details for Vijayadashami?

Chapter 42 delves into the intricacies of the timing of Sai Baba's Mahasamadhi, reconciling different calendrical and astrological points. It states the event took place on Vijayadashami in the Shaka year 1840. However, it also clarifies that the bell struck at twelve-thirty in the afternoon, at which point the Dashami (the tenth lunar day) period was completed and Ekadashi (the eleventh lunar day) had just begun. The text explicitly states, 'The time of departure was Ekadashi.' To resolve any confusion, the chapter adds a crucial detail about Hindu tradition: 'The tithi (lunar day) at sunrise is considered the tithi for Dussehra.' This means that although Baba left his body when Ekadashi had technically started, the entire day was observed as Vijayadashami because the Dashami tithi was present at sunrise.