What was the significance of devotees giving books to Sai Baba and receiving them back as a blessing?

Devotees held a deep belief in the power of Sai Baba's touch and blessing. A common practice, detailed in Chapter 27, was for devotees to bring sacred books from a shop and offer them into Baba's hands. They would then ask for the books back, receiving them as a form of 'prasad' or blessing. The significance of this act was the belief that reading a book sanctified by Baba's touch would lead to the acquisition of spiritual merit. It was considered an act of supreme welfare for both the person reading the book and anyone who listened. The text mentions devotees offering various books like the Five-Jeweled Gita, Viveksindhu, and Dasganu's works for this very purpose.