Did Sai Baba ever promise to return after he left his body?

Yes, after Sai Baba left his physical form, his devotees were filled with sorrow but also with hope because of a specific promise he made. As Chapter 43 recounts, Maharaj had previously told his followers, "As an eight-year-old child, I will appear again." This declaration was considered the sacred word of a saint and not to be dismissed. The text highlights that this promise instilled full confidence in the devotees' minds that he would indeed return, easing their grief and reinforcing their faith in his eternal nature.