What deeper spiritual meaning did Sai Baba convey by giving devotees Udi?

Chapter 33 explains the profound philosophical significance behind Sai Baba's distribution of Udi. The act was a form of spiritual instruction. By giving the sacred ash, Baba intended to remind everyone that the entire visible universe is transient and ultimately turns to ash. The text states that our bodies, made of five elements, are like wood; once our destined experiences are over, they too will become ash. As this chapter reveals, the Udi is a symbol meant to encourage the constant awareness that the world is pervaded by Maya (illusion) and that Brahman alone is the ultimate, unchanging reality.