Who was Devidas, and what was his significance in Shirdi as mentioned in Chapter 5?

As detailed in Chapter 5, Devidas was a wise individual who had already settled in Shirdi twelve years before Baba came with the wedding party. He lived a simple, ascetic life at the Maruti temple, wearing only a loincloth. He played the role of a teacher, instructing Appa Bhill on a slate and making people recite the Venkatesh Stotra. His wisdom was so revered that prominent villagers like Tatyaba took him as their Guru, and other leading disciples bowed to him. His spiritual stature is further highlighted by the account of him defeating a Fakir in a scriptural debate, not through aggression, but through his superior detachment, demonstrating his importance in the community.