How did the villagers of Shirdi initially perceive Sai Baba before they witnessed his miracles?

Initially, the villagers of Shirdi regarded Sai Baba as an ordinary or even a mad Fakir. As detailed in Chapter 0, his appearance and behavior were unconventional; he wore torn clothes, sat in random places like by a stream or under a Neem tree, and would sometimes assume a fierce form. This conduct led the general public to see him as a madman. However, a few recognized his true nature, with one person stating, "This is a diamond. You don't know its true value." The widespread delusion among the villagers was only removed after they witnessed his divine powers, which caused them to understand his true worth.