Swami Vijnanananda was an engineer, he was always consulted regarding the construction of Ramakrishna Mission's hospitals or temples. In 1909, the Swami went to Varnasi to supervise the construction of Ramakrishna Mission Home of Service. While riding from the rail station to the center, Vijnanananda's horse carriage suddenly overturned, and one of his legs was twisted inside a wheel. Although he was in severe pain, he was able to pull his leg out immediately.Vijnanananda reached the ashrama by another carriage, and the doctors took care of him quickly.

That night he had a high temperature and a terrible headache.He thought to himself: "Lord Vishwanath, I have come to your city to work for the Master.This is an unselfish action! Why has this accident happened? The Master's work will suffer." Thinking thus, he fell asleep. Vijnanananda later narrated the following experience: "It was 1.00 or 2.00 AM, I saw Lord Shiva with matted hair and smiling face appear before me. I said: "Lord, have you come to take me? But I cannot go now; I have to complete the Master's work first." He didn't listen to me. Smiling, he came forward and embraced me. Immediately, my body became as cold as ice. I then said to him: "Good-bye now, Lord. I shall have to do the Master's work." Lord Shiva laughed and went. Strangely enough, in the morning I felt no fever and also my wounds were healed to some extent. Even now I sometimes see the calm smiling form of Lord Shiva.