Why did Maharaj put his devotee Kashiram through financial hardship by demanding Dakshina?

The narrative in Chapter 0 explains that Maharaj's actions were a divine play, or 'Leela,' designed for Kashiram's spiritual benefit. Initially, Kashiram felt pride in his ability to give, and would feel bad and even cry if Maharaj did not accept Dakshina from him. This feeling is described as an obstacle to spiritual progress. To remove this pride, Maharaj began demanding Dakshina relentlessly, forcing Kashiram into debt. The entire episode was orchestrated to make Kashiram realize that he did not have the power to give. As Chapter 0 confirms, once this realization dawned on him, his financial condition improved and he became prosperous again.