What was Shirdi like as a location for saints and pilgrims during the time Maharaj first arrived?

During the period when Maharaj first arrived, Shirdi was a place frequented by holy men. According to Chapter 0, the village was situated on a walking path for pilgrims traveling to southern holy sites like Rameshwar and Pandharpur. This meant that the feet of many holy men touched the land. When Maharaj arrived, there was already a saint named Devidas residing there, who was visited by various other saints. The text also mentions a very advanced saint named Janakidas who stayed for many days and spent a lot of time with Maharaj. This environment of spiritual traffic contributed to the presence of figures like Gangagir Baba, who were able to recognize Maharaj's greatness.