How did Baba's prophecy about Tatya demonstrate his perceived control over life and death?

Sai Baba's prophecy about Tatya showcased a divine level of foreknowledge and control. Chapter 42 explains that Baba first assured Ramchandra Patil that his 'Hundi' (life span) was secure before predicting the exact day—Vijayadashami, Shaka 1840—for Tatya's departure. The unwavering accuracy of Baba's words was a source of great anxiety. The eventual outcome, where Baba seemingly substituted his own life for Tatya's, was seen as the ultimate demonstration of his power. People concluded that Baba had orchestrated this 'exchange' of his own body to avert Tatya's fated death, a mysterious plan that highlighted his mastery over life and death in a way that was incomprehensible to others until after the event had passed.