Who were the people who brought the tiger to Shirdi and what was their motivation?

As described in Chapter 31, the tiger was brought to Shirdi by three darveshis, or fakirs. This tiger was the primary means by which they made their living, performing shows with it as they traveled from village to village. Their motivation for bringing the animal to Sai Baba was born of desperation and faith. The tiger was suffering from an ailment, and the darveshis were exhausted from trying various remedies. Having heard of Baba's divine powers, they decided that seeking his darshan was the best course of action. They hoped that through the saint's blessings, the welfare of the tiger would be secured.