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Purpose of Prayer:
If God doesn't forgive us then why should
we waste our time and energy in prayers? This sounds like a
valid question but it is asked by one who doesn't know the
true meaning of prayers. Prayer, meaning
prarthana, is
to beg
for the knowledge and strength to do positive karma for overall
good of the community. There is no prayer if someone asks
God for selfish ends. Can we pray God and ask Him to make
bread for us? Can we ask Him to sweep our houses? Such
prayers are waste of time. The purpose of prayer is to ask for
insights to see what is not easily visible to the mind. The
purpose of prayer is to get strength to do some grand
karma
for others' benefit. Indeed, even such prayers are not granted
merely by utterances of the words. They must be coupled with
the related efforts and practices. True purpose of the prayers is
to bring humility in ones mind and to derive encouragement
from Him to perform positive higher order karma for the benefit
of the others. Some Vedic prayers follow. It is remarkable that
they are in plural form whenever the devotee asks for something
except the last one that is in singular when he is taking a vow
to lead the truthful life. Of course, the vow must be taken on
behalf of the self alone.
Some Vedic Prayers:
Dhiyo yo nah pracodayat
(Bgveda,
Yajurveda and Samaveda) — May our intellects follow your
Infinite Lustre and Brightness, called
Bhargah.
Vayam syama patayoh rayinam
(Yajurveda) — May we own great
wealth.
Agne naya supatha raye
(Yajurveda) — May we follow the path
of the learned souls.
Asmakam vtra uttare bhavantu —
May our brave heroes emerge
victorious.
Idam sham anrtat satyam upaimi —
I
vow to leave the path of
untruth to follow the path of
truth.
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