What was the real reason Sai Baba had the women grind wheat and then throw the flour away? It seems like a strange act.

The true purpose behind Baba's seemingly strange act of grinding wheat was revealed later, as detailed in Chapter 1 of the Shri Sai Satcharitra. The wheat was not merely grain; it was a symbolic representation of the cholera epidemic that had gripped the village. By grinding the 'wheat,' Baba was metaphorically grinding the disease itself into dust. He then instructed the women to throw the resulting 'flour' on the village boundary. By having the flour discarded outside the village, he effectively drove the epidemic away, and the disease began to recede. This event is a powerful illustration of Baba's unique methods and how his actions, which might seem incomprehensible at first, were actually profound acts of compassion to protect his devotees.