Which other holy men recognized Maharaj's greatness, and what did they say about him?

Several other saints recognized Maharaj's divine stature long before he became famous. According to Chapter 0, when Gangagir Baba first saw Maharaj carrying water pots, he immediately told the villagers, "This is purely a gem. His worth is very great. The village is very lucky that you got this gem." Similarly, Anandnath Maharaj, a disciple of the famous Swami of Akkalkot, made a special trip to Shirdi to see him. Upon his arrival, he 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." These testimonials from respected figures helped to eventually shift the villagers' perception.