What was the 'Satya-Sai vow' that the Patil initiated, and how did it originate?

The 'Satya-Sai vow' was a new devotional tradition started by the Patil out of profound gratitude for his healing by Sai Baba. Chapter 13 explains that this practice was modeled on the traditional Satyanarayan vow, which people performed to overcome crises. However, instead of reading the Satyanarayan story, the Patil would read the three chapters about Sainath from Das Ganu's 'Bhaktalilamrut' every Thursday after bathing. The text draws a direct parallel, stating, 'There it is Narayan, here it is Sai; there is no difference in either.' This act of devotion, born from his personal experience, eventually became a custom in his village.