Power of Prayer, by Sanchay Jain
The clock strikes midnight. With a sleep-induced sigh, the massive textbook is slammed vigorously and stacked on top of the others. I rise from my chair and shuffle down the stairs and towards the sanctuary. Sitting cross-legged, back erect, I close my eyes and inhale, the fresh oxygen refreshing my body. Amidst the stress that comes from the rigors of tests and activities and the hustle and bustle of school, the next five to ten minutes are blissfully spent in the solitude of meditation and prayer. The tension is relieved; the worries are removed from my mind.
***
In every civilization, prayer is associated with spirituality. Hinduism is no different. Its two epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata contain numerous examples of men and women whose meditation and calls for God yield miraculous results, from Draupadi, Ravana, and Bheeshma, to even the authors themselves. Ultimately, one would not pray if they did not believe in the impact of their prayers, and Hindus are no exception.
However, prayer is not merely a religious ritual with spiritual connotations. It offers mental peace and even physical solace. Without the opportunity to clear my thoughts through this cathartic process, frustration would stay pent up inside, festering dangerously. Prayer also provides a routine. Despite the frenetic pace my life takes and regardless of the chaotic nature of my schedule, I can rest assured that when I sit down in front of God, the next five minutes will be standard everyday.
Hindus are blessed with a unique method of prayer: the chanting of sacred mantras. These mantras can range from four lines to thousands of stanzas. As a result, they are not only messages for divinity, but also potent tools for sharpening intelligence and inculcating self-discipline. Without consistent practice and repetition, how can one memorize a long prayer like the Hanuman Chaalisa?
One example that illustrates the character-building power of prayer comes from my mother’s uncle. When he was a child, a local priest recommended that he memorize a sacred mantra describing the one thousand names of the Lord Vishnu. In order to memorize this shloka, my mother’s uncle went to the priest’s ashram for one hour every week. After five years of this routine, he had finally memorized the entire shloka, something he remembers till this date. More than just the words in this prayer, the weekly regimen instilled in him the self-discipline to tackle big challenges gradually, a very valuable characteristic to possess.
But finally, perhaps the most important non-spiritual impact prayer has is its ability to serve as a vital link for the future generation to its roots and heritage. Hindustan is certainly a diverse and expansive nation, with a multifaceted culture that varies by region. This colorful tradition would fade into a dark extinction without the subconscious handing down of mantras.
The most famous example of prayer’s role in preserving Hindu tradition has occurred in the Caribbean, Fiji, and Mauritius, where Hindus were transplanted forcefully due to the British Raj. Devoid of sacred texts and pandits to guide them in pooja, these men and women were only equipped with the memory of Tulsidas’s Ram Charit Manas. Instead of being exterminated in a foreign land, Hinduism thrived in this new environment, due to the preservation and propagation of the Ram Charit Manas amongst the people.
***
I do pranam in front of the murtis of our family pooja room, and then walk upstairs, ready to go upstairs. The agitation of my mind has been silenced, while the wandering has ceased. In terms of the soul’s spiritual journey, it has perhaps inched ever-so-slightly closer to Brahman, but the body has replenished itself as it progresses through the game of Life. I collapse onto my bed and close my eyes, knowing that I have not only helped myself through prayer, but I have helped play a small and yet valuable part in the preservation of my heritage. The power of prayer is immense.
Sanchay is a senior in high school in West Roxbury, Massachusetts. He has interned in the Scheduling Office of MA Gov. Deval Patrick and is a branch manager of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, USA. Sanchay enjoys reading and listening to music.
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February 2nd, 2010 06:47
Beautiful, beautifully written. Surprised to know that the same kind of lifestyle is happening there as well. You are a prime example of what it is like to live a Hindu way of life and practice it. Keep going. Good Luck to you.
February 6th, 2010 00:55
Excellent post. Very well written. This post reminded me of my own pain & sufferings and how I overcome them with prayers & meditation.
God bless you Sanchay.
February 6th, 2010 07:29
Thank you so much Sanchay for sharing this with us. It is so refreshing to hear of the power and potency of prayer, and especially I liked your mentioning of the power of the Vishnu Sahasranama, which I chant too whenever I get the time.
Thank you so much :)
Regards
Sharath
March 29th, 2010 01:33
Very well written, except for a little correction.
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The most famous example of prayer’s role in preserving Hindu tradition has occurred in the Caribbean, Fiji, and Mauritius, where Hindus were transplanted forcefully due to the British Raj. Devoid of sacred texts and pandits to guide them in pooja, these men and women were only equipped with the memory of Tulsidas’s Ram Charit Manas. Instead of being exterminated in a foreign land, Hinduism thrived in this new environment, due to the preservation and propagation of the Ram Charit Manas amongst the people”
Hinduism has been very well preserved in the above countries due to the fact that the hindus who lived on these islands under the colonial rulers had a good knowledge and understanding of the Gita, the Ramayana and the Vedas too. It was not easy. After all they were from India originally and had brought these precious belongings with them.It is interesting to note that now the children of those island hindus are now well settled in countries like England, Canada, Australia and they are teaching hinduism and spiritual class to the hindu children abroad so that they will not lose it and this is an amazing thing for them to do. I am one of them. Hinduism and indian spirituality will continue to live for ever all over the world.