What was the initial perception of Sai Baba by the villagers of Shirdi, and what was his appearance like?

Initially, the villagers of Shirdi considered Sai Baba, or Maharaj, to be an ordinary or even a mad Fakir. As detailed in Chapter 0, this perception was largely due to his unconventional behavior and appearance. He wore torn clothes, would sit in random places like at the stream or under a Neem tree, and sometimes assumed a fierce form. This conduct made him seem like a madman to the general public, who had not yet realized his true worth. One person, however, recognized his value, stating, "This is a diamond. You don't know its true value... he is a direct diamond."