What was the significance of Sai Baba choosing Vijayadashami for his departure, and how was this connected to Tatya?

The significance of Vijayadashami is deeply intertwined with Baba's prophecy for Tatya. Chapter 42 explains that Baba had predicted Tatya's death would occur on this specific day. While Tatya did fall gravely ill as the day approached, he miraculously survived. Instead, Baba himself chose this exact moment to leave his body. The common understanding among devotees was that Baba had orchestrated an 'exchange' of his own body to avert Tatya's fated death. The text also mentions that Dussehra (Vijayadashami) is known as a particularly auspicious time for departure, but it simultaneously questions the relevance of such timings for a being like Baba, who has no true 'coming or going,' thus highlighting the profound and mysterious nature of his final act.