Are there historical precedents for using detailed biographies for devotional community readings, specifically within the Maharashtrian tradition mentioned in the texts about Sai Baba?

Yes, the preface found in Chapter 0 explicitly discusses this tradition in Maharashtra. It notes that while many biographies exist, very few are ancient, detailed, and comprehensive enough for Parayans and Saptahs. It highlights two exceptional works that fit this description and are used for community devotion. The first is the well-known 'Brihat or Thorale Guru Charitra' by Shri Saraswati Gangadhar about Shri Narsimha Saraswati Maharaj, which is studied daily in thousands of places. The second is the more recent 'Shri Sai Satcharita' by Annasaheb Dabholkar about Sai Baba, which follows in this tradition of being a detailed, grace-filled work suitable for group study and devotion.