Who were among the first devotees of Maharaj in Shirdi, and how did they serve the saints who visited the village?

Chapter 0 introduces the first devotees in Shirdi who were drawn to Maharaj. After Mhalasapati met Maharaj, he brought him into the village and introduced him to his companions, Kashiram Shimpi and Appa Jagle. These three men—Mhalasapati, Kashiram, and Appa—were known for their service to holy figures. The text explains that because Shirdi was a busy village, saints, Gosavis, Bairagis, and Fakirs often came through, and these three would provide hospitality and look after them according to their capacity, eventually becoming total devotees of Maharaj themselves.