Power of Prayer

“Gajendra, in his previous birth, had been a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. His name was Indradyumna, and he was the King of the Tamila country. Following the Vedic principles, this King retired from family life and constructed a small cottage in the Malayacala Hills, where he always worshipped the Supreme Personality of Godhead in silence. Agastya Rishi, along with many disciples, once approached King Indradyumna’s asrama, but because the King was meditating on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he could not receive Agastya Rishi properly. Thus the rishi became very angry and cursed the King to become a dull elephant. In accordance with this curse, the King was born as an elephant, and he forgot all about his previous activities in devotional service. Nonetheless, in his birth as an elephant, when he was dangerously attacked by the crocodile, he remembered his past life in devotional service and remembered a prayer he had learned in that life. Because of this prayer, he again received the mercy of the Lord. Thus he was immediately delivered, and he became one of the Lord’s four-handed associates.” (SB 8.8 Introduction)

Prayer is an intensely personal process, and also the most universal, since prayers are found in religions and cultures across the world. Prayer is everything from our most intimate and personal conversations with the Lord, to the celebrated expressions of praise and gratitude echoing through generations. The SrimadBhagavatam is filled with such sincere outpourings and heartfelt expressions, such as those of Queen Kunti, Dhruva Maharaja, Vritrasura and Prahlada. Gajendra also recited beautiful prayers that had become etched within him from a previous life. Such prayers are a reflection of the devotee’s realisation and unique relationship with Krishna. Prayer is not a language of words, but a language of the heart. The real beauty of a prayer, however articulated, is in its sincerity.

While heartfelt prayers address the Lord, they simultaneously help us to organise our own jumbled-up minds, which often play host to a multitude of competing emotions, desires and ideas. Prayer reminds us of our cherished aspiration and ultimate goal – something that may get lost and forgotten in the bedlam of life. Thus, prayer is an essential component for progressive devotion. It can be seen as the steering wheel for life, not just the spare wheel we call upon in times of emergency. Indeed, a modern dictum tells us that a week without prayer will make one weak. Without prayer, our activities can easily become mechanical, impersonal and uninspiring.