Who was Devidas and what was his role in Shirdi before Sai Baba's return, as described in Chapter 5?

As recounted in Chapter 5 of the Shri Sai Satcharitra, Devidas was a very wise individual who had settled in Shirdi twelve years before Sai Baba arrived with the wedding party. He lived a simple life in the Maruti temple, wearing only a loincloth. He played the role of a teacher, instructing people like Appa Bhill on a slate and teaching them the Venkatesh Stotra, which he made them recite by heart. Due to his wisdom, prominent villagers like Tatyaba and Kashinath considered him their Guru. This narrative from Chapter 5 establishes that Shirdi already had a spiritual guide before Baba's fame grew.