If Sai Baba is eternal and beyond death, why was there so much sorrow and chaos in Shirdi when he left his body?

This is an insightful question that highlights the human reaction to a divine event. While Chapter 43 explains that Sai Baba is eternal and merely merged into the unmanifest, it also vividly describes the immediate aftermath of his physical departure. When the inauspicious news of Baba’s departure spread, it pierced the hearts of the people like an arrow, feeling like a thunderbolt. A great cry arose throughout Shirdi as a mountain of sorrow collapsed upon them. Due to the weight of their great love for him, their throats were choked with emotion, and tears flowed. This profound grief demonstrates the deep personal connection and love the devotees had for Baba's physical presence, even if his true form is indestructible.