Until around 1909, Baba almost never asked for dakshina (donations) and rarely accepted monetary offerings, except occasionally a few small coins which he used for buying fuel. Then, for some reason, Baba did start asking, although he had no personal need or desire for money, and by the end of each day he had always given away whatever he had received that day, remaining true to his principles of non-attachment and poverty. A few devotees (such as Bade Baba and Tatya Kote Patil) were even given a fixed amount every day.

Baba's purpose in asking for dakshina was always to benefit a particular individual by, for example, driving a (frequently moral) point home, balancing a forgotten debt or conferring a special blessing. Often, the amount asked would contain a hidden or symbolic meaning. "I do not ask from everyone," he said, "but only from those whom the fakir (God) has pointed out. In exchange I have to give ten times the amount I have taken." Consequently, some people were eager to give Baba as much as possible! - but just as Baba would ask only from certain people, he would not accept unsolicited dakshina from everyone who wanted to give it.

Baba once told a devotee that his own guru had asked him for dakshina of two paise but, as Baba pointed out, it was not coins which his guru wanted, but nishta (faith) and saburi (patience). The signficance of dakshina, its subtleties and the way Baba used it would be a fascinating subject for further exploration.

The hundi (donation box) that we now find beside the portrait reminds us of the special role that dakshina played in Baba's leelas, and how he used it to bless his devotees. Today, the enormous quantity of donations is used by the Sansthan for maintaining facilities and worship, and for various social projects.