How was Maharaj initially perceived by the villagers of Shirdi when he arrived?

In his early days, the villagers of Shirdi largely considered Maharaj to be an ordinary or even a mad Fakir. This perception stemmed from his unconventional behavior, as detailed in Chapter 0. He wore torn clothes, would sit in random places like by a stream or under a Neem tree, and sometimes assumed a fierce appearance. The text states, "He looks like a madman. But he is one who has swallowed the universe." This initial misunderstanding by the general public stood in stark contrast to how other holy men saw him, and it took time for the villagers to recognize his true worth.