Did Sai Baba always accept monetary offerings? Describe how his practice of taking Dakshina evolved over time.

No, Sai Baba did not always accept Dakshina. Chapter 14 details that in his early days, he took nothing from anyone. If someone happened to place a small coin near him, he would use it for simple needs like tobacco or oil. The practice of accepting Dakshina began because devotees felt it was improper to approach a saint empty-handed. Initially, Baba would accept only small coins and would return any large copper coins offered to him. As his fame grew and crowds of devotees increased, more formal, ritualistic worship became common, and the offering of Dakshina evolved into a more established part of the darshan experience.