NOBODY CAN ESCAPE AFFLICTIONS FROM SHANI.

Thirukkachi Nambi is a famous Vaishnava saint of Tamilnadu, who lived about a thousand years ago. He devoted his life to the service of God, Lord  Varadaraaja perumaal of Kanchi. It is said he would converse with God  during his Service. Even he was not spared by Shani Kaatam or affliction by  planet Saturn

First let us learn a little about Shani kaatam. Our Hindu Astrology believes that the position of the 9 planets in Solar System, at the time of birth of a person, and their subsequent movement during the course of his life influence his life, causing happiness or misery, success or failure. The nine planets are: Sun,(Ravi)  Moon (Chandra),Mercury,(Shukra) Venus(Budha) Mars,(Kuja) Jupiter (Guru) ,Saturn (Shani) and 2 imaginary planets, Raahu and Ketu. The position of each planet with reference to Earth at the time birth of a person is marked in a chart called Janma Kundali or Horoscope having ‘12 Houses ‘The position of Moon in the chart is reckoned as House No. 1
Movement of the planets from house to house roughly correspond to 1/12 the orbital period of the planet ,i.e a planet moves through all 12 houses in one orbital period. For any particular age of the person , the position of the various planets in the kundali is decided by computing the movement of the planets in the houses of kundali .Astonishingly it is observed that the sages who developed the system knew about the orbital period of all the planets.
Orbital period of Saturn or Shani is roughly 30 years so he takes 2 ½ years to transit one house. It is believed that, in a person’s life, the period  Shani takes to transit the 3 houses, the house of Moon and those on either side ,is the crucial period for the person when unexpected hardships may come. So this period of    7 ½ years is dreaded as Shani Dasha or Shani kaata (Kaata in Kannada means, pestering). It is believed that Shani deva, is permitted by God Almighty to pester anybody when the period comes in that person’s life
Now, coming back to the story, Tirukkachi Nambi was a very pious person devoting his time in the service of Varadaraaja  Perumaal at Kanchi. The period of Shani kaat came in his life also! Shani was hesitant to directly attack such a devote of Perumaal as Nambi. So , Shanideva went to Varadaraaja and asked “Lord, The wheel of Time (Kaala Chakra) has turned, and it is time for me to pester Nambi .As ordained by You, nobody can    go against Kaala.  So I have come to take your permission” The Lord said,” what you said is generally true. But in Nambi’s case, I cannot forego his services So ,you better go and ask Nambi when it is convenient.”
Shani deva went to Nambi and said, Sir I know you are a great person and are devoted in Perumaal’s service. Yet, you cannot escape me. I have taken permission of the Lord and he asked me to approach you to get the time suitable for you. You cannot be totally exempted.”
  As a true Vaishnava, Nambi had surrendered himself to God, this is called ‘sharanaagathi. He thought for a while and said, “Alright; God’s will. Tonight after my offering Paryankaasana to the Lord and putting Him to sleep, I go home. Then you may have your possession of me”
Hardly had Nambi reached home, he saw  the Police chief and temple authorities. The Police Chief said “Respected Sir, We have come to arrest you on a charge of stealing Temple Property. A golden vessel in the Lord’s Sannidhi is missing, and you were the last to leave the Sanctum. So we have no alternative but to arrest you now and present you before the King in the morning.” Nambi had to spend the night in the Lock-up with other criminals!
Next day morning ,he was to be taken to the king. At that time , a Temple Employee came running with the Gold vessel telling, “Sir we found this vessel under a heap of dresses of Lord Varadaraaja, when the attendant opened the temple doors and took the clothes for cleaning”
 The Police Chief apologized to Nambi.” Now that the vessel is found, there is no need to go to the King. You are freed.
Nambi looked back. He had been in the lockup for seven and a half hours    So, this was Shani’s pestering. Normally it would have been for 7 ½ years, instead, it had been over in 7 ½ hours only! That was God’s will!
  Nambi smiled, “ Shani had his pestering and Lord did not miss my services”! He hurried to bathe and go to temple as usual!

Though you cannot avoid Shani Kaatam,if you are in good looks of God, He can mitigate it. You surrender to Him and do what pleases Him.