Why did Sai Baba suddenly start grinding wheat in the mosque, and what was the ultimate purpose of this action?

Sai Baba's act of grinding wheat was a divine play that initially baffled onlookers, as he was a detached saint with no possessions or family to feed. As detailed in Chapter 1, after the women of the village helped him grind the wheat, he did not allow them to take the flour. Instead, he became angry and ordered them to throw it on the village boundary. The true purpose, as explained by the villagers later, was to combat an epidemic. The wheat was not just grain; it symbolically represented the cholera epidemic. By grinding it and casting the 'flour' out, Baba was effectively driving the disease away from the village, showcasing his unique and compassionate methods.