Why did Maharaj cause Kashiram to experience financial hardship?

Maharaj's actions were a spiritual lesson designed to remove an obstacle from Kashiram's path. As Chapter 0 explains, Kashiram felt immense pride in his ability to give Dakshina and would become upset if Maharaj didn't accept it. This pride was a hindrance to his spiritual progress. To eliminate this, Maharaj started demanding excessive Dakshina, forcing Kashiram into debt. The entire 'Leela' was orchestrated to make Kashiram realize that he did not truly possess the power to give, thereby removing his pride and allowing his spiritual journey to continue unimpeded.