How Sai Baba Used Udi for Healing (Stories, Meaning, and Faith)

Udi, the sacred ash from the Dhuni at Shirdi, was one of the most powerful tools used by Shirdi Sai Baba for healing devotees.

SHIRDI & PILGRIMAGE

Vedant Sharma

1/28/20262 min read

What Is Udi and Why Sai Baba Used It

Udi came from the Dhuni (holy fire) that burned continuously near Sai Baba in Shirdi. Sai Baba personally maintained this fire and distributed the ash freely.

He believed:

  • True healing begins with faith

  • Illness is often connected to karma and fear

  • Divine grace can work through the simplest objects

Udi symbolized surrender, humility, and trust in God.

Sai Baba’s Unique Approach to Healing

Sai Baba did not rely on medicines or rituals alone. His healing method combined:

  • Faith (Shraddha)

  • Patience (Saburi)

  • Blessing through Udi

He often reminded devotees that God is the real healer, and Udi was only the medium.

Ways Sai Baba Used Udi for Healing

1. Udi as Spiritual Medicine

Sai Baba often gave Udi to sick devotees and instructed them to:

  • Mix a small pinch with water

  • Drink it with full faith

Many devotees reported recovery from fevers, stomach ailments, and chronic illnesses after following his instructions.

2. Applying Udi on the Body

Sai Baba sometimes applied Udi directly:

  • On wounds

  • On the forehead

  • On affected body parts

Devotees believed this soothed pain and accelerated healing.

3. Udi to Remove Fear and Anxiety

Not all suffering was physical. Sai Baba used Udi to:

  • Calm anxious minds

  • Reduce fear of death or illness

  • Restore emotional balance

For Sai Baba, peace of mind was the first step toward physical recovery.

4. Udi as Protection from Harm

Sai Baba gave Udi to devotees before journeys or during danger. He assured them that faith-filled Udi would protect them from accidents and misfortune.

Famous Healing Experiences with Udi

Several healing accounts involving Udi are recorded in Sai Satcharitra, the sacred biography of Sai Baba. These include:

  • Recovery from life-threatening diseases

  • Relief from long-term pain

  • Mental peace after prolonged distress

Sai Baba never claimed credit. He always emphasized devotion to God.

Why Udi Worked, According to Sai Baba

Sai Baba taught that:

  • Faith activates divine grace

  • Ego blocks healing

  • Simplicity attracts blessings

Udi worked not because of its physical nature, but because it was given with divine intention and received with trust.

Udi: Healing Beyond the Body

Sai Baba used Udi to heal:

  • Pride and ego

  • Greed and fear

  • Doubt and despair

In this sense, Udi was as much a spiritual purifier as a physical remedy.

How Devotees Use Udi for Healing Today

Even today, devotees:

  • Apply Udi during illness

  • Consume it prayerfully

  • Use it during Thursday worship

  • Seek Sai Baba’s grace through it

The practice continues as a living tradition of faith.

Important Understanding

Sai Baba never encouraged blind belief. He taught balance:

  • Pray with faith

  • Accept medical help when needed

  • Trust God’s will above all

Udi was meant to strengthen inner faith, not replace responsibility.

Sai Baba used Udi for healing as an act of compassion, not magic. Through Udi, he taught that true healing comes from surrender, humility, and unwavering faith. For devotees, Udi remains a timeless reminder that divine grace often arrives in the simplest form.

Read More:

Rules to follow while visiting Shirdi

Sai Baba Samadhi timing explained

How long does Shirdi darshan take

Shirdi darshan process explained for first timers