What was the hidden meaning behind Sai Baba's cries about a 'phantom' and his demand for a lamp during the Chavadi serpent incident?

Sai Baba's actions during this incident were a clever and indirect warning. Chapter 22 explains that when Baba shouted about a 'vivashi' (phantom/evil spirit) near his own bedding, it was not a literal claim but a tactic to alert his followers to a real, physical danger. Experienced devotees like Amir Shakkar were familiar with Baba's unique way of speaking and knew that when he mentioned a danger to himself, it was often a threat to one of his devotees. The call for a lamp was the crucial part of this warning; it was the tool needed to expose the hidden threat. By bringing light into the dark area where the devotees slept, the venomous snake was revealed and neutralized. This event demonstrates Baba's method of using symbolic language to deliver his devotees from crisis.