The texts in Chapter 4 provide several instances where Shirdi is equated with holy places like Pandharpur. When Das Ganu requested Vitthal's appearance during a Name-week, Sai Baba assured him that Shirdi itself is the "Dwarka City of Ranchhod" and the "Pandhari of Lord Vitthal," stating one need not go far to see God. This was proven when Das Ganu reportedly had a vision of Vitthal in Shirdi. Furthermore, Kakasaheb Dixit also had a vision of Vitthal during meditation, which Baba acknowledged and was later confirmed when a picture seller arrived with an identical image. These events, along with Baba's teaching to "Keep this firm faith and realize God," reinforce the idea that for a devotee, Vitthal could be realized right there in Shirdi.
What evidence is there in the texts that Shirdi was considered a place to experience Vitthal, similar to Pandharpur?
📖 Chapter 4