Were there other holy men who recognized Maharaj's spiritual stature when he first arrived in Shirdi?

Yes, several other revered saints recognized Maharaj's profound spiritual greatness shortly after he arrived in Shirdi. Chapter 0 recounts how the famous Gangagir Baba, upon seeing Maharaj carrying two earthen pots of 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, spontaneously traveled to Shirdi and proclaimed, "This is a diamond. You don't know its true value." These accounts highlight that his extraordinary nature was apparent to other advanced spiritual figures of the time.