Why did Sai Baba stop giving medicine and start giving Udi instead?

The texts provide insight into Maharaj's shift from providing medicine to giving Udi. In a conversation with the writer, whom he called Kaka, Maharaj explained this transition himself. As detailed in Chapter 0, he said, 'Kaka... I used to give medicine to people before. Later, I stopped giving medicine and started saying 'Hari Hari', and while saying Hari Hari, I met Hari.' This statement suggests his spiritual practices evolved, and the power of the divine name ('Hari Hari') and the resulting spiritual realization ('I met Hari') replaced the need for physical medicine. He then began giving Udi, or ash, which people found beneficial.