Santaram Balwant Nachne

Santaram Balwant Nachne of Dahanu first heard of Baba in 1909. His elder brother was about to have a dangerous throat operation in Bombay, and a friend urged the family to pray to Baba. That same day a sadhu came to their house, was given a full meal, and blessed them, saying the operation had gone well. It had, and his brother recovered. The same year his father heard Das Ganu's kirtan on Baba, and the family began to worship Baba's picture.

In 1912 Nachne made his first trip to Shirdi with two friends. On the way, a station master told them that Baba was only a hypnotist. When Nachne stood before Baba for the first time, Baba told him that he had left home without taking leave from the Mamlatdar, his superior. This was true and no one had told Baba. Nachne became a firm believer after three days in Shirdi.

Nachne remained a lifelong devotee. He published many of his experiences of Baba's protection in the Sai Leela magazine, and gave a full account in 1936.