A Hindu Perspective by Balliram Chadee. M.Hin.

www.thehanumanmission.com. bally@thehanumanmission.com or Bally 416-992-2487.

This is the 26th in a series of articles by Dr. Balliram Chadee and Hotshots Newspaper to bring a Hindu Perspective to educate our community. Comments and suggestions are welcome.

  Question: The Power of Prayer - Luck, Co-incidence or Reality: How do you see it as a Hindu?

Ans: The power of prayer in many religions and faith groups, if not all, have one common denominator. The effects of pure and sincere rendering of prayer will yield the expected powers and bring relief to the affected, directly or to the helpless (sick or disabled) when rendered on their behalf by someone else. Many of us, if not all, pray for different reasons and no one is in any position ever, irregardless of how we see the method of prayer being conducted, to judge another. There are many faiths, beliefs and practices which make up the prayer environment and requirements of so many around the world. It is not left upon us as Hindus to agree or disagree with the existence of the God to whom others worship, nor is it left upon us as Hindus to confirm or deny the authenticity of the method of prayer executed by others. As Hindus, we believe in the brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God: remember see God in every thing: “ Siya Ram mai sab jaga jaani”

However when we look at the power of prayer, we often are exposed to many views, some diverging, others in sync with the majority. We as Hindus have all been at one point or another, in a puja, jhandi, yagna, wedding etc, where Vedic mantras have been recited, narrated or chanted, right? Have you realized a difference while you were there, from the time the mantras or prayer verses were recited? Did you feel “moved”? Did your body react differently? Many people can write books and speak for hours on experiences and even “miracles” seen, felt or experienced through the power of prayer. So then how do we truly assess the power of prayer? How do we know when we “feel” something? How do we know when we are in tune with the prayer? Have you ever been to a puja or religious ceremony where it seems like forever? It is boring? You are falling asleep? Why? It is the same prayers the same Pundit or Spiritualist would recite at another function, so what is the difference here? As Hindus, it is a general philosophical view and belief that when we pray, we put our hearts, souls and mental state in one pointed devotion, so we can attune our minds to that purpose and allow the power of prayer being chanted to enter the inner chambers of our minds, hearts and bodies. Then and only then can we feel the power of prayer.

“Saying prayers is not praying”! The power cannot be realized by luck or co-incidence. No right thinking faith person or spiritualist would tell anyone that the power of prayer can be realized through co-incidence or luck. The result of prayer and the effectiveness of prayer is acknowledged by the intensity, strength and devotion to which a person dedicate the mental state and body during prayer. As Hindus, before the start of any rituals or ceremonies, we recite the “Swasti Vaachan” which are a series of Vedic verses to allow us to bring peace to ourselves, our surroundings and to help us attain one pointed focus, so we can then concentrate on the real purpose of what we are about to enter – Prayer . From my personal experience over the many years as a practicing Hindu, I can safely without a doubt confirm the power of prayer; as witnessed, felt and experienced. I am sure each of you in your own way can also do the same. Hindus practice devotion in a systematic and structured process, which begins with purification of body and environment, invocation of peace mantras and invitation to that divine consciousness in the ritualistic worship. There are specific prayers for every aspect of rituals which are performed in Hinduism, tried, tested and which stood the storms of times for centuries. Next time you question the power of prayer, think about a person who is sick with pains, can't eat, vomiting, scared etc. and also remember when babies cry without stopping until they get “jharay”. Remember those days? Remember when you had a severe killing headache and you were blessed through the power of prayer? Remember when medicine was not working and you had a visit at the hospital or your home and without explanations, things changed, much to the amazement of the doctors? Remember stories like these? Strange or real? Remember when in intense devotion of any faith, during strong prayer and in the presence of the lord, in various faiths, you see people crying, dancing and lifting their hands etc.? Do any of these things help you comprehend the power of prayer? If the above examples still do not convince you of the power of prayer, ask yourself the question then, that during the times of crisis in your own life, when you would not admit to anyone but you prayed privately for a specific reason and then got relieved, if that was luck, co-incidence or the power of prayer ? You be the judge1 Happy Ganesh Jayanti . Bally