What was the significance of the Chavadi in the story of Amir Shakkar?

The Chavadi was highly significant as it was the dilapidated location where Sai Baba ordered Amir Shakkar to stay for nine months to cure his rheumatism. Despite its terrible conditions—being damp, uneven, and home to scorpions and lizards—it became a place of great spiritual fortune. As Chapter 22 explains, this apparent 'imprisonment' was actually a 'firm companionship with Sai.' Amir was blessed with automatic, effortless visions of Baba every morning and evening. On alternate nights, when Baba also stayed there, they would converse privately, a rare benefit that demonstrated the Chavadi's importance as a site for intense spiritual development over physical comfort.