Who was Mhalasapati and what was his initial interaction with Sai Baba?

Mhalasapati was a resident of Shirdi and a goldsmith by caste, as detailed in Chapter 0 of the Sai Satcharitra. He was a devout follower of Khandoba. His first interaction with Maharaj was highly significant. When Maharaj, dressed in a kafni, cap, and dhoti, entered the Khandoba temple upon his arrival in Shirdi, Mhalasapati was the one who greeted him. As the Introduction chapter explains, his welcoming words were "Aavo Sai Baba" (Come, Sai Baba). This greeting effectively bestowed upon Maharaj the name he would be known by for the rest of his life. Mhalasapati later introduced Baba to his friends, Kashiram Shimpi and Appa Jagle.