Prayer

I have made prayer mandatory in my routine. Be it chanting shlokas in Sanskrit or the Hanumaan Chalisa in Awadhi or reading the holy book in Bangla prayer in any form is satisfying and calming. When I was working, due to a packed schedule and consequent time constraints, I used to do all my paath (readings) while commuting to and from the office.

Growing up I have seen my father sitting in dhyana in front of the deity regularly. My mother would sing bhajans or prayer songs every evening. My sister is deeply into meditation. I believe all these have an effect on me.

I have friends who are atheists which is quite okay. Investing in good thoughts and good deeds is the essence of holistic living.

Praying is not about being religious. It is acknowledging a higher power who is guiding our lives. Chanting mantras and chaupais are supposed to put in place the laya or rhythm of the body by dint of their inherent cadence. When we recite again and again our minds empty out and the focus on unnecessary thinking is shifted for the time being. Chanting a number of times a day is like a mental exercise facilitating declutter and silencing the mind.

Early morning prayer is starting the day on a sacred note. Like yoga does to the body prayer puts the mind in positive momentum. As we pray the mind is purified of negativity, if any, of the previous day. Praying at night before going to bed is meditative and induces sound sleep. Gratitude is also a prayer wherein we thank our guiding light for all the endowments in life.

Prayer, therefore, is also a form of healthcare and can be called one of the  ‘best practices’ of maintaining personal well being. That which calms the body and mind also helps in improving clarity of thought and purpose. In every religion the significance of prayer is the highest. In Islam it’s doing the namaaz five times a day, in Christianity it’s reading the bible and thanking the Lord, in Hinduism it’s reading the scriptures and prayer books and listening to spiritual talks.

Singing is also an excellent way of praying. In Gurdwaras we hear the gurvaanis. Being educated in a convent, singing hymns was part of our daily assembly. I have heard nuns singing in Carmelite Church which is an ethereal experience. I love the sufi qawwalis sung in Masjids and classical music concerts. Singing prayer songs is a regular ritual amongst the  members of Brahmo Samaaj. The prayers sung in Ramakrishna mission in dhrupad style are just transcendental. In our neighborhood temple ladies often sing together in praise of the Lord.

I have heard of ‘modern’ rituals of cleansing body and mind like aura cleaning, distant meditation and even past life regression etc. I am not sure about their efficacy though many indulge in these methods. Moreover, for these processes one is dependent on somebody else. Prayer, on the other hand, is a direct communication between you and your being.

Having said that I know many who consider prayer as an activity to undertake when one is old and in the last leg of one’s journey. Do you think praying is old fashioned? How important is it for you to pray? How would you like to have communion with the divine?

Let me know in the comments.