Why did Sai Baba ask for Dakshina? Was it simply for material gain?

Sai Baba's primary intention in asking for Dakshina was not for material gain, but for the spiritual purification of his devotees. As explained in Chapter 14, many followers were entirely attached to the world, and Baba's goal was that through the act of giving Dakshina, their hearts would become pure. The scriptures, known as the Shruti, also teach that giving is a technique for self-knowledge. For the greed-oriented person, Sai Nath, being an ocean of mercy, extended his hand for Dakshina to help pull them from the pit of greed for their own benefit.