What is the ultimate metaphysical truth that Sai Baba intended to convey through the symbol of Udi?

The act of giving Udi was not merely a ritual but a profound teaching in non-dual philosophy. As Chapter 33 clarifies, the ultimate truth Baba conveyed is the distinction between the real and the unreal. The Udi is a tangible sign that the entire visible universe, pervaded by Maya (illusion), is fundamentally insubstantial and transient, like ash. In contrast, Brahman alone is the ultimate, unchanging reality. By giving the Vibhuti, Baba urged devotees to maintain constant awareness of this truth, to remember that the physical body and the world are impermanent, and to fix their minds on the eternal.