Why Udhi /Ash is important, even now?

SSSC Ch 33 says

It is well-known that Baba took Dakshina from all. Out of the amount thus collected, He spent a lot on charity. He purchased fuel with the balance left with Him.

This fuel He threw in the Dhuni – the sacred fire, which he kept ever burning. The ash from this fire was called Udi. It was freely distributed to the devotees at the time of their departure from Shirdi.

What did Baba teach or hint by this Udi? Baba taught by His Udi that all the visible phenomena in the universe are as transient as the ash.

Our bodies composed of wood or matter of the five elements will fall down. After all their enjoyments are over, they will be reduced to ashes.

Baba distributed Udi to the devotees. This was to remind them that their bodies will be reduced to ashes.

Baba also taught by the Udi that the Brahman is the only Reality. He taught that the universe is ephemeral. No one in this world, be he a son, father or wife, is really ours. We come here (in this world) alone and we have to go out alone.

It was found and is even now found out, that the Udi cured many physical and mental maladies. However, Baba wanted to din into the devotee’s ears the principles of discrimination between the Unreal and the Real. He emphasized non-attachment for the Unreal, by His Udi and Dakshina.

The former (Udi) taught us discrimination and the latter (Dakshina) taught us non-attachment. Unless we have these two things, it is not possible for us to cross over the sea of the mundane existence. So Baba asked for and took Dakshina.

While the devotees took leave, He gave Udi as Prasad. He besmeared some of it on the Bhaktas’ foreheads. He placed His boon-conferring hand on their heads.

So much about the spiritual implication of Udi. It had also its material significance.

It conferred health, prosperity, freedom from anxiety, and many other worldly gains. So the Udi has helped us to gain both our ends – material as well as spiritual.