Why did a search for eggplants begin in Shirdi, and what did the discovery reveal about Baba's connection to his devotees?

A search for eggplants began in Shirdi because Sai Baba, after tasting a delicious eggplant dish called 'bharit', suddenly expressed a wish to eat 'kachrya' (fried eggplant slices). As Chapter 9 explains, this was problematic because it was not the season for eggplants, and the kitchen staff had no idea where to procure them. The search for the vegetable led them back to the family of Purandare and the lady who had brought the 'bharit' offering. Upon questioning her, everyone understood the significance: the original devotee who sent the eggplants had specifically requested that both 'bharit' and 'kachrya' be made for Baba. The incident powerfully revealed Baba's intimate knowledge of his devotees' hearts and intentions, showing that he was aware of a loving request made far away, even for a dish that hadn't been prepared yet.