Describe the spiritual environment of Shirdi around the time Maharaj arrived, including other saints who visited.

When Maharaj first arrived, Shirdi was already a place touched by holiness. Chapter 0 explains that it was situated on a walking path for pilgrims heading to major holy sites like Rameshwar and Pandharpur, meaning many holy men passed through. A saint named Devidas was already present in Shirdi, and he was visited by various other saints. Among the notable figures who spent time there was Janakidas, who was considered a very advanced saint and sat with Maharaj frequently. The famous Gangagir Baba also visited, further establishing the area as a place of significant spiritual confluence during that period.