One of the first things we teach a child to do is to pray. The moment children are able to walk, to talk, we teach them to pray. Why do we find it so necessary to introduce them to prayer? If I look back at my life, I started praying when I was barely 5 or 6 years old. When I was 8 years old, I used to go to the temple practically every day and even used to fast on Mondays. At that time, I did not even know why I was praying. My grandfather was a devout believer and over a period of time, he made me understand the importance of prayer. Till the day he passed away, he used to constantly pray. He believed that God was all-powerful. He had complete trust and faith in the Divine Power.
Different people pray for different reasons. Some, like my grandfather, prayed because of their faith in the Divine. The world is divided into several religions as we know, and our prayers are governed by the scriptures of our religion. Whatever be our religion, the motivation for our prayers is the same. If it is not faith, then our prayer is inspired by fear. Many religions talk about how God will be displeased if we don’t pray.
Why else does one pray? There are a few who pray to God in gratitude. As they count their blessings, they fold their hands to their God Almighty and express their thanks. Don’t we owe a prayer of gratitude to the one who has given us life? If we stop to think of it, each human being has more than seven wonders within. Not just eyes to see, ears to hear, a nose to smell, a mouth to eat, hands to grasp, and legs to walk and touch, but also a heart that beats and pumps blood. We human beings are also blessed with lungs that supply oxygen from the air, a brain and an intellect, but do we ever realize this? Those who do, offer prayers in gratitude for all these gifts – for the gift of being human.
But stop for a moment and think as to why we really pray. There are some people who don’t pray. Neither are they moved by faith or fear nor do they pray out of love or gratitude. This is because they don’t believe in the Divine. The first step even before we pray is to believe that God exists. Although God is different to different people around the world, the God of every religion is considered to be the Creator of the universe. Those who don’t believe this, don’t find it necessary to pray. They believe in a theory that we human beings came from apes. But if that was true then why are apes not becoming humans today? And if human beings came from apes for whatever reason, where did apes come from? Dinosaurs?
Theories like these or the belief that everything beautiful and intelligent on earth just came out of a big bang seems strange because even if there was a big bang, then who caused it? For those who use their intellect, they believe in God and this leads them to pray. Because of the confusion in today’s world with so many Gods, some people have become agnostics. They are not sure about the existence of a Divine Power. Some agnostics believe that there is a Creator, a Power that they are not sure of.
Therefore, the first step even before prayer is belief. It is for this reason that a young child is taught to pray, and it becomes a part of our belief system, our habit and philosophy of life. But while prayer might have become intertwined with our way of life, why do we really pray?
Prayer can be broadly classified into praying by choice and praying because we have no option. It is most unfortunate but true that a large number of prayers are indeed inspired by helplessness. People go to God when they have no option. Even the so-called atheists and agnostics are often compelled to go on their knees when there is no hope but God. What happens when a doctor tells us that our most loved one will soon die? Of course, we cry, but the next thing we do is go to God and pray. We human beings instinctively know that God controls life and death, that God can grant us extended life if he desires. And so, we plead in entreaty to grant our loved one an extra lease of life. Yes, indeed it is true that many people go to temples, mosques, and churches when they have nowhere else to go. This type of prayer, which is not optional, covers a huge part of the world’s prayer.
It is not fair to say that all prayers come out of helplessness. Millions around the globe pray because they love God. They pray to express their gratitude rather than to ask for favours. But isn’t it true that we all ask God for something? Of course. Very often we go to God and ask God to grant us success and wealth. It is also quite common for people to plead to God that they may win the love of their life and they may marry the one they dream of. Prayers don’t stop after marriage. Do they? We often pray to God to bless us with children. Some even specifically pray for a boy or a girl. Kids in school pray to God for a good rank. Politicians pray to win an election. Prayers happen everywhere, not just by individuals, but even by groups. Doesn’t a football team start their World Cup final with a prayer? What is this prayer for? They want to win the cup! How can God make them win the cup? If both the teams are asking God for the same favour, then whose prayer will work? This makes us ponder further on the magic of prayer.
People spend their entire life’s savings going on a pilgrimage. Their religion teaches them that it is the ultimate goal of life to take blessings from God and so, they put everything else aside and prioritize to go to where their God is said to be. Christians may go to Jerusalem or Bethlehem, Muslims go to Mecca and Hindus will go to Kailash if they believe in Shiva or the dozens of other pilgrimages, depending on which God they believe in. While a fraction of humanity is fortunate to go to such places of pilgrimages, most of humanity prays on a regular basis at their respective place of worship. This is only because they believe in God, and also that going to their religious institution will make their prayers work.
While there is no harm to go to God in times of trouble, and to also ask for gifts and favours in prayer, real prayer happens when we love God. A famous Indian poet, Sant Kabir Das, once said, ‘Dukh mein simran sab karein, sukh mein kare na koye—Jo sukh mein simran kare, tau dukh kahe ko hoye.’ This means that everybody remembers God in trouble. Nobody thinks of God in joy. If only we loved God and shared our happiness with our Lord, why would we ever face trouble?
If prayer springs out of true love for the Divine, such prayer will work wonders in our life. When we love the Divine, we constantly pray in gratitude. Such prayer is built on the foundation of complete surrender. A true believer of God accepts the Divine will and prays to God, no matter what. This is true prayer.
While many people in the world don’t know why they pray, there are some who are absolutely clear about what they want out of their prayers. Devout believers pray with purpose. They want what is popularly known as salvation, enlightenment, liberation, moksha or nirvana. They want to become one with God and their prayers are more evolved than the ordinary prayers of the world. They don’t seek petty, material things from God. Those who pray for this, the ultimate goal of life, realize the importance of prayer.
Prayer is powerful. Although our journey of life starts without truly understanding the meaning of prayer, but the simple belief in God and the very act of prayer itself builds our connection with the Divine. Prayer is not only powerful, but it is also magical. If only we understood the true meaning of prayer, and we truly love God, our prayers would take us to the Divine, a state that is not just beyond human comprehension but promises everlasting joy and eternal peace.
Why do we pray, have you ever thought?
Or in rituals and in dogmas, are you caught?
Don’t just pray to God when troubles come,
Pray because you love God till life is done.