What was Shirdi's spiritual environment like before Sai Baba returned with Chand Patil's wedding party?

The Shri Sai Satcharitra provides some important context about Shirdi before Baba's well-known reappearance. Chapter 5 explains that Shirdi was not devoid of spiritual figures prior to Baba's return. The narrative clarifies that before Baba, the "gem," was found within a Muslim wedding party, other saints had already made Shirdi their home. Specifically, the text states that a holy man named Devidas had already established himself there. Furthermore, another saint, Janakidas Gosavi, also came to live in Shirdi at a later time. This indicates that the town already possessed a spiritual atmosphere that would welcome a person like Sai Baba.