How did the practice of worshipping Sai Baba in Shirdi evolve, and who were the key individuals involved in its beginning?

The practice of worshipping Maharaj evolved over time, as he did not initially permit it. According to the introductory chapter, the first worship was accepted from Mhalasapati. Later, while Maharaj was initially angry with Sitaram Dengle, he still permitted the worship to be completed. A significant turning point came when he peacefully allowed Nanasaheb Chandorkar's younger son, Mahadev alias Bapu, to perform worship. After this event, as Chapter 0 explains, everyone received permission to worship Maharaj, marking a major shift in the daily practices at Shirdi.