How did Sai Baba physically administer Udi to his followers, and what was its immediate significance?

As devotees prepared to leave after receiving his Darshan, Sai Baba would give them Vibhuti, or Udi, as a form of benediction. As described in Chapter 33, this sacred ash was taken directly from the Dhuni, a fire that burned constantly day and night in the Masjid. Baba would distribute handfuls of this ash, which he called Prasad (a blessed offering). In a personal and caring gesture, he would sometimes apply the ash to a devotee's forehead with his own thumb and then place his entire hand on their head, signifying a deep blessing and his wish for their welfare.