What was wrong with Amir Shakkar, and what was Sai Baba's unusual cure for his illness?

Amir Shakkar was afflicted with a severe case of rheumatism. As detailed in Chapter 22, after he narrated his illness to Sai Baba and prayed for deliverance from his sorrow, Baba provided a very specific remedy. Instead of a physical medicine, Baba instructed him to stay steadily in the Chavadi. Baba's firm words were the only medicine prescribed. Amir was to reside in the Chavadi, a place Baba visited every alternate night, for a period of nine months. Despite the place's terrible conditions, Amir was told to accept Baba's word as the ultimate remedy and stay there happily, which he did for the ordained duration.