What were the main scriptures read in Shirdi, and why were they considered important?

The primary scriptures featured in the daily readings were the Bhagavad Gita and the Bhagavat, which are described in Chapter 18 as the "two main books" and the essence of the Bhagavat religion. Specifically, the texts read were the Jnaneshwari, which is a commentary on the Gita also known as Bhavartha Deepika, and the eleventh Skandha of the Bhagavat written by Eknath. Their importance is highlighted by Baba's personal involvement; he would actively send devotees to listen and even insisted that an interrupted reading of the Bhagavat be completed, showing that he considered this disciplined study essential for a devotee's spiritual welfare.