How did other prominent saints and holy men perceive Sai Baba when he first came to Shirdi?

Several revered saints recognized Maharaj's exceptional spiritual stature shortly after his arrival. As detailed in Chapter 0, Gangagir Baba, upon seeing Maharaj carrying water, immediately declared to the villagers, "This is purely a gem. His worth is very great. The village is very lucky that you got this gem." Similarly, Anandnath Maharaj of Akkalkot, a disciple of the famous Swami of Akkalkot, also referred to Maharaj as "a diamond" whose "true value" the villagers did not yet know. These encounters, which included "great affectionate conversations" between the saints, highlight the immediate recognition of his greatness by his spiritual peers.