Did Sai Baba really die? What does the Satcharitra say about his departure from the physical body?

According to Chapter 43, the idea that Sai Baba 'died' is not accepted. The text explains that for a Yogi like Sai Samarth, death as we know it does not apply. He could die at will and chose to burn his body in the fire of Yoga, merging himself into the unmanifest. He appeared in a physical form for the protection of his devotees, and once that task was over, he returned to his previous unmanifest state. Chapter 43 emphasizes that he remains eternally in the hearts of his devotees, and by merely remembering his name, the concepts of birth and death cease to have meaning for him.