What were the initial impressions of Sai Baba by the general public versus other holy men like Anandnath Maharaj?

The initial impressions of Sai Baba were starkly different between the general public and other holy men. Chapter 0 explains that the villagers of Shirdi saw him as an ordinary or even a mad Fakir because he wore torn clothes and exhibited erratic behavior, such as sitting under a Neem tree or by a stream. In contrast, holy men recognized his divinity. Gangagir Baba called him a "gem" of great worth. Similarly, Anandnath Maharaj of Akkalkot, upon coming to Shirdi, proclaimed, "This is a diamond. You don't know its true value. Even if he is on a dunghill, he is a direct diamond; keep this in mind."