Did Baba's influence only extend to people physically present in Shirdi, or could he help those far away?

The texts make it clear that Sai Baba's grace and influence were not confined by physical location. Chapter 18 explicitly states, "Whether the devotee is near or in a distant land, Baba is close within." This illustrates his omnipresence and ability to connect with and guide his followers no matter where they were. The passage further explains that even while sitting in the Masjid, Baba could assign a task to someone, empower them with His own energy, and ensure that the work was completed, demonstrating that his reach was boundless and not limited to those in his immediate vicinity.