Why did Baba start grinding wheat in the mosque when he lived on alms and had no family to feed?

Baba's act of grinding wheat was not for sustenance but was a profound, symbolic act to protect the village. As recounted in Chapter 1, the villagers were initially confused, wondering why a detached saint would perform such a chore. The truth, revealed later, was that the wheat was not just grain but a representation of the cholera epidemic ravaging the area. By grinding the wheat, Baba was spiritually grinding the disease itself into submission. He then had the resulting flour thrown on the village boundary, which caused the epidemic to recede. This divine play, or 'leela', shows that his actions often had a deeper purpose that was not immediately apparent and served the well-being of his devotees.