From a devotee's perspective, what made the practice of receiving Udi from Sai Baba so central to their experience in Shirdi?

The distribution of Udi was a cornerstone of the devotee experience because it was a constant and direct interaction with Baba's grace and wisdom. As explained in Chapter 33, it served multiple purposes. For those departing, receiving Udi was a cherished form of permission and blessing for their journey. For all devotees, whether staying or leaving, it was a daily, tangible reminder of Baba's core teachings on detachment and impermanence. By never sending anyone away empty-handed, Baba used the Udi to continuously teach that the body and the world are transient, like wood turning to ash, and that one should always remember this truth.