Once a harrassed devotee had many troubles and he approached Shree Chandrashekara Saraswati known as Maha Periyava of Kanchipuram.
The devotee said he was very sad and he was losing faith in Goddess Shakti (Parvati-the divine mother, spouse of Shiva).
Periyava patiently listened to all his woes. He then said, “See you are in lots of sorrow. Let me tell you a story.
Once a salt merchant who was a devotee of Kamakshi( the form of the divine mother at Kanchipuram, a shakti peetha) and his friends went to the market with salt on their donkeys. To reach the market they had to pass by a forest.
As he had a lot of salt, he expected a lot of profit.
When they reached half the way, suddenly it got cloudy.
The merchant prayed to Kamakshi to not let it rain as all the salt would go vain.
In a few seconds it poured rain. All the salt washed away.
The merchant now was angry and was crying. He said ,Amma Kamakshi I prayed to you so much all my life. I asked you one thing to protect my salt. Now I have so much loss! I will never worship you again”.
On their way back to their town, they were attacked by bandits inhabiting the forest who had guns.
The merchant and his friends were terrified of the guns.
Just when hope was bleak!
The bandits found that the guns made of gunpowder did not work as it was wet with rain that had just poured!
Taking advantage of this situation, the merchant and his friends fought the now powerless bandits who then ran away.
The merchant now had tears of joy that his life was saved. He said, “Amma Kamakshi you gave rain and I got angry that my salt waa lost. If I had gone to the market I would have earned a lot but it would have all been stolen by the bandits. Worse they would have killed us. But, you sent rain and prevented me from going to the market. Due to the rains, the guns of the bandits did not work so we are safe.”
Periyava now asked the devotee, “Do you understand? Remember the Divine mother. That in your difficulties Ambal allows you to think of her. Isn’t that a blessing itself? Think of her always. She will end your problems”.
Needless to say in a while the problems of the devotee ended.
Let us reflect on the story said by Paramacharya.
Such a simple way to overcome the problems we are facing in life. Meditation on the grace of Guru and Ambal. They protect us from something even big that could have happened.
Lets see the good in every situation.
After all every heartbeat, every sneeze, every pulse is thework of the Divine!
Sorrow or happiness-they are gifts from the universe!
shivsimha 
