What was the religious atmosphere of Shirdi when Maharaj was there? Were there other saints around?

Yes, Shirdi was a place frequented by holy figures during that time. Chapter 0 explains that Shirdi was situated on a common walking path for pilgrims journeying to major holy sites like Rameshwar and Pandharpur, so many saints passed through. When Maharaj first arrived, a saint named Devidas was already present, and another advanced saint, Janakidas, stayed for a considerable time and spent many hours with Maharaj. The text also mentions the notable visits of Gangagir Baba and Anandnath Maharaj, indicating that the village had a significant level of spiritual activity beyond just Maharaj's presence.