Swami Shivananda was born on 16th November 1854
“In those days when we used to visit the Master I frequently had to go to home, because I was married. It was distasteful to me. Somehow or other I would spend the night at home repeating the name of the Lord…I spoke about it to the Master and prayed that my worldly bondage be destroyed. After hearing my story the Master asked me to perform a certain ritual and said in a tone of assurance: “Have no fear. I am here to protect you. Think of me and perform this ritual. Nothing adverse will happen to you. I am telling you that even if you sleep in the same room with your wife, you will be free from danger. You will see it will rather intensify your spirit of renunciation. I went through the ritual as instructed and didn’t have any trouble. In the course of conversation I mentioned this incident to Swamiji. He was very much surprised and remarked: “What do you say! It is the characteristic of a Mahapurush. You are certainly one.” Since then he started calling me by this name, and others did the same.
(p.131, God lived With Them)