Why did Sai Baba appear in Shirdi, and what happened to him after he 'left his body'?

The text explains that Sai Baba's appearance in Shirdi was driven by a single purpose: the welfare and protection of his devotees. As detailed in Chapter 43, he 'appeared in Shirdi for the sake of the devotees’ protection.' When this task was considered complete, he did not die in the conventional sense but chose to leave his physical form. He merged back into his 'previous unmanifest state,' becoming one with Brahman. The narrative strongly refutes the idea of his annihilation, stating that he remains unbroken, fills the entire world in his true form, and continues to stay 'in the hearts of the devotees,' offering experiences based on their faith and feeling.