What did Anandnath Maharaj say about Sai Baba when he first visited Shirdi, and why was it significant?

Anandnath Maharaj, a disciple of the famous Swami of Akkalkot, recognized Sai Baba's divine nature long before he was widely known. According to Chapter 0, when Anandnath Maharaj came to Shirdi, he proclaimed, "This is a diamond. You don't know its true value. Even if he is on a dunghill, he is a direct diamond; keep this in mind." This statement was significant because at the time, most villagers considered Maharaj to be an ordinary or even a mad Fakir due to his unconventional behavior and torn clothes. Anandnath's immediate recognition of Maharaj's spiritual greatness highlighted the perception gap between a fellow enlightened soul and the general public.