Many agree that prayers have immense power. Prayers are an important tool to recharge us. We should take one minute break every hour for ourselves and do the prayers for ourselves, our community, all humanity, all living beings, the environment, the cosmos, etc.
Where can we do prayers:
- At the beginning of any event
- In a mandir or at home
- Anywhere, everywhere, anytime
Why should we pray:
- It is a way to connect to the divinity and supreme power
- Helps when we are troubled or worried
- It gives courage and a sense of security
- It calms the devotee. A calm mind leads to clear actions which in turn lead to success
- It gives joy and peace
- It helps in concentrating and increases mental abilities
- It brings in positive thoughts and removes the negative thoughts
- Devotional chanting creates powerful vibrations in the body and in the environment
- Helps in understanding ourselves or introspection
- It takes devottee from gross to subtle
- It helps in honestly expressing ourselves and surrender
- It decreases and finally eliminates ego
- It helps in rejecting the path of falsehood and takes us towards truth and reality---अग्ने॒ नय॑ सु॒पथा॑ रा॒येऽअ॒स्मान् विश्वा॑नि देव व॒युना॑नि वि॒द्वान्। यु॒यो॒ध्य᳕स्मज्जु॑हुरा॒णमेनो॒ भूयि॑ष्ठां ते॒ नम॑ऽउक्तिं विधेम ॥१६ ॥ Yajurved chapter 40. O self-illuminated Lord, cast out from us all what is debasing and sinful, and lead us by the path of righteousness to the attainment of true knowledge and wordly riches. We offer to you deep respect and praise.
Shatpath Brahman 14.3.1.30
ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय।
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय।
मृत्योर्मामृतं गमय ॥
ॐ शान्ति शान्ति शान्तिः ॥
May we reject the path of falsehood and progress towards truth. May we reject the path of darkness and progress towards enlightenment. May we reject the path of death and seek eternal immortality in form of moksh. O Ishwar! Please be our guide! - Helps in maintaining good health. People who pray regularly tend to have stable heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure
- It decreases the possibility of psychosomatic diseases
- It helps in accepting the supreme power and understanding that we are miniscule
How to pray:
- Outloud or silently
- With a group or alone
- With open or closed eyes
- In any position
- With or without the paraphernalia
There are nine ways of worship
Nav Vidha Bhakti
- Hearing or Sravan, attending satsang
- Chanting or Kirtan
- Remembering or Vishnu Smaran, Jaap
- Serving the feet or Paad seva
- Murti puja or Archana
- Prayers or Vandana
- Doing work of Parmatma or Dasyam Bhakti
- Serving as a friend or Sakha Bhaav
- Surrender or Atma Nivedan
Types of prayers:
- pūjā/arādhana
- stotra
- japa
- yajña/homa
- prārthana
- upasana/dhyāna
- Sandhya - nitya karma
Pūja/ārādhana is the formal process of making offerings to the deity, guru or a parent – the only purpose is to show gratitude and as service (seva/kainkarya). If the deity is installed in then it is a nitya-karma - obligatory daily duty.
Stotra is singing the praises and pastimes of the deity in order to please, thank or gratify the deity or simply to inform listeners.
Japa is the silent recitation of a mantra using a rosary (japa-māla) for the purpose of self-development (sādhana) or to attain siddhi of the mantra.
Yajña/homa is the making of oblations of ghee, milk or other substances into the sacred fire - the reasons are many - (1) as a daily duty, as (2) gratitude and service (kainkarya), to please the deities, (3) to obtain some benefit.
Prarthana – is singing of songs making formal requests for benefits - both material and spiritual.
Upāsana/dhyāna – is daily meditation upon your tutelary deity (iṣṭha-devata) the purpose is formal spiritual growth and development (sādhana).
Sandhya is a nitya karma - a daily obligatory duty in which water libations are offered to the sun and the gāyatri mantra is recited - it is a duty and not for any purpose.