“O playful Ram has come ! and brought sacks of Udi ”

Baba repeatedly asked and took Dakshina, from which He did charity, helping the poor and the needy. From the balance, He purchased a lot of firewood, which He piled in heaps.

He offered the dry wood as an oblation in the Dhuni, in front of Him. The ashes from the burnt wood which were considerable, were distributed to the devotees.

At the time of departure from Shirdi, while seeking leave from Baba, it was customary to give Udi. All the devotees knew this.

In fact, when Baba asked for Udi to be brought, it was felt that it was really the permission granted to leave and they felt happy to return home.

Also, when one was residing at Shirdi, Baba did not give Udi to any one in the afternoon, morning or evening. One was sent back empty handed.

This was a daily routine. But, what was the significance of that Udi, for which the Dhuni was kept alight perpetually in the Masjid. Why was this done daily ?

What did Baba hint at, or have in His mind, when giving the ‘Vibhuti’ ? ‘‘All this visible phenomena in the universe is as transient as the ashes. Bear this definitely in mind.

The body itself, like that drywood, is made up of the five elements, and remains to endure life. When the life span is over, it falls dead and will be certainly reduced to ashes.

You and I will undergo the same stages. So that, you should remembr this and I should also be aware of it, day and night, I give the Vibhuti.

The entire uiverse is full of Maya. Brahman is the only reality, while the universe is illusory. Bear this in mind that this is what the Udi teaches.

No person belongs to any one in this world - be they wife, son, uncles or nephews. Naked you come and naked you will return. The Udi is a reminder of it.’’

If this Udi is applied to the body, the physical and mental sufferings are cured. But, the true significance of the Udi is deep and it is meant for discriminatory detachment.

Giving as much as possible as ‘Dakshina’ develops a tendency towards detachment. Later on, one is able gradually to know what detachment is.

Even if one acquires detachment, if it is not accompanied by discretion, it is useless. Therefore, honour the Vibhuti.

To bring together discrimination and detachment both Udi and Dakshina are linked. Unless we have both, at the same time, it is very difficult to cross over the river of existence.

The young and the old came for Darshan and humbled themselves at Baba’s Feet. Whenever they returned, Baba gave them Vibhuti.

The Dhuni was kept alight regularly in the Masjid. It burned day in and day out, throughout the year. Baba gave a handful of the ashes from it, when bidding farewell.

He gave the ashes as ‘Prasad’, smeard it with His thumb on the forehead and together with it placed His hand on the head, wishing for the well-being of the devotees.

Ashes, Vibhuti and Udi are three words with the same meaning. This was the Prasad distributed daily in unlimited quantity by Baba.

This world is like the Udi. This is the real importance of Udi. Bear it in mind and you will realize it one day.

Like the drops of water on the petals of the lotus, this evanescent body will fall, therefore, abandon all pride in it. The giving of Udi showed this.

This expanse of the whole universe is like a ‘Rangoli’ design drawn with ashes. Think about the illusory nature of the world and the reality abides only in the Udi.

Udi is only dust. All existence, which has name and form, ultimately reaches the same state. Whatever changes are observed in the world, they are only for name’s sake. This is experienced from the never-changing qualities of dust.

When Baba was in a joyful mood, He used to sing. The listeners should hear with respect an interesting snatch from one of His songs.

‘‘O playful Ram has come ! And brought sacks of Udi’’, were the two lines He sang. Whenever He was in a happy and joyous mood, He sang this refrain repeatedly, in a melodious voice.

In brief, how many sacksful of Udi has this Dhuni produced ? None is capable of counting them. This Udi is supremely beneficial.

After listening to the deep purport in giving this Udi, and its spiritual and devotional significance, the listeners want to know its effect on purely worldly matters of health and prosperity.

Udi has this quality also. Otherwise, how could its importance increase ? Sai is proficient in showing the path of salvation. After helping the devotees in mundane matters, He leads them to spiritual progress.

    - Shri Sai Satcharita

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