What was the significance of the dhuni for Sai Baba, and where did he live before the mosque?

According to Chapter 5, the dhuni, or sacred fire, was central to Sai Baba's existence in the mosque. It served as his protection from the cold, as he wore only a loincloth. More profoundly, Baba used the dhuni as a symbolic vessel for spiritual sacrifice. He would offer his ego, desires, worldly inclinations, and the 'log of knowledge and pride' as oblations into the fire, all while chanting 'Allah-Malik.' Before he began staying in the mosque, Baba lived in the Takia, a resting place for Fakirs, where he would joyfully dance and sing.