In 1955 when the Residential quarters for devotees were coming up around
Swami's residence in Prashanti Nilayam, Shankar, an eleven-year old boy was
actively participating in the construction activity. A truck loaded with
bricks arrived and the boy was helping in unloading them. After the truck was
emptied, he stood at its rear shaking dust off his body and clothes. He did
not notice that the driver started the engine and the vehicle was moving
backwards. The driver, unfortunately, did not see Shankar and drove the truck
very fast.
To his utter shock, the boy suddenly found himself pushed violently by
the huge vehicle. Petrified with fear and shock, he lost all bodily control
and just collapsed where he stood. The inexorable did come to pass, the heavy
tyre of the enormous vehicle crushed his tender leg. The only thing Shankar
could do in that awful moment before he became unconscious was to give out a
loud cry, "Swami!" People nearby ran to his rescue, pulled him aside and
wrapped a towel around the crushed limb. Totally confused, they did not know
what to do next. They could only raise their heads and look towards Swami's
residence.
To their surprise, they saw Swami standing in the balcony and looking
directly in their direction. Before they opened their mouths to tell Him what
had happened, Swami told them to take the boy to the hospital adjoining his
residence. They did as directed.
Afterwards, Shankar's brother ran to Swami. He loudly wailed, "Swami, my
younger brother has lost his leg." Swami consoled him, "Do not worry. Nothing
has happened to his leg." As He uttered the sweet words, He pulled back the
sleeve of His shirt and showed His open palm. On the palm could be distinctly
seen the marks of the truck's heavy tyre. Swami told the distraught young man
that He had inserted His own palm between the truck's tyre and the little boy's
leg so that the huge weight of the truck would not bear heavily upon the leg.
When doctors found that not a single bone of Shankar's leg was damaged,
they were astonished and also very much relieved. Due to Swami's divine Will
and immense mercy, the boy recovered soon.
