Why did Sai Baba seemingly deceive Dev by not attending the Udyapan ceremony after explicitly promising to come? It seems like a broken promise.

Contrary to Dev's initial belief, Sai Baba did not break his promise; in fact, he fulfilled it in a way that tested his devotee's perception. As recounted in Chapter 40, Baba explained that he attended the Udyapan ceremony in the guise of a Sanyasi. He had told Dev he would come with two others, and he did exactly that, arriving as a Sanyasi with two companions for the meal. Baba himself stated, "for the sake of My word, I would die; but the words from My mouth shall never be otherwise." The incident was not a deception but a lesson, revealing that Dev's delusion and preconceived notions prevented him from recognizing his Guru, a fact Dev later lamented upon learning the truth.