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I don't know how to pray or what to pray for
- Thread starter Jainarayan
- Start date
Fireside_Hindu
Jai Lakshmi Maa
This is one big reason for me as well.
If I remember correctly, the requestor of the boon was often someone who wanted great power, e.g. Ravana, Bali, Hiranyakashipu. In the end, however, their pride and desire for greatness was their undoing. So there are lessons there. On the other hand, someone like Nachiketa didn't ask for anything material and even denounced material things, so he got the best boon of all from Lord Yama without asking for it... moksha. The take-home lesson, I think is to not bribe the gods, because it will backfire.
That sounds reasonable. Actually, though I'm not initiated or use them for japa, I liked saying the deities' gayatris as a litany, one after the other. I don't know if that's permissible, but I've done it.
There are prayers that ask for simple things like the prayer that praises Lord Narasimha and asks him to help us be strong for living in this world, or the prayer to Saraswatimaa praising her and asking her to remove our ignorance. I have the Sanskrit versions, but somehow, unless it's a mantra and requires the Sanskrit, I think the prayers should be recited in one's own language. I can tease out the the meaning from the Sanskrit but it seems to be more meaningful if you know exactly what you are saying.
Yeah, as silly as this sounds... when I was heavy into weighlifting (no pun intended
) before a big lift I'd say "Lord Hanuman, please give me the strength to make this", or "please don't let me drop this barbell on my throat". He never let me down. I guess given all the answers from everyone, and in thinking about it, maybe I do know how to pray, because we all do it in a different way.
Yes, now I tend to think that the deities are smiling with amusement when we try to do things just right for them. Like in my puja. I've started doing a Sri Krishna puja (only a couple times a week) where I offer the water for his hands, feet, to drink, a flower, the akshata, recite the 108 names, etc., you know.
It currently takes me about 1/2 hour because I have to read the steps from a paprer, and am so slow at pronouncing the ashtothram. I have to go back over one here or there and say it again. But the point is, when I stumble, I mutter "sorry" and try it again. I get the feeling that Sri Krishna is smiling at my attempt.
Random thoughts on the nature of the east/west divide....
In some of the western ways, the way to justice is via revenge, an eye for an eye, for that's only fair. This extends the karma, shifting is back onto the revenge taker.
In Hinduism and other dharmic paths, in the soul's maturity, we learn to apologise, to break the cycle, to walk away, to extend a hand. It is not an 'us versus them' overall mentality.
In some of the western ways, the way to justice is via revenge, an eye for an eye, for that's only fair. This extends the karma, shifting is back onto the revenge taker.
In Hinduism and other dharmic paths, in the soul's maturity, we learn to apologise, to break the cycle, to walk away, to extend a hand. It is not an 'us versus them' overall mentality.
Kalidas
Well-Known Member
Yes, now I tend to think that the deities are smiling with amusement when we try to do things just right for them. Like in my puja. I've started doing a Sri Krishna puja (only a couple times a week) where I offer the water for his hands, feet, to drink, a flower, the akshata, recite the 108 names, etc., you know.
It currently takes me about 1/2 hour because I have to read the steps from a paprer, and am so slow at pronouncing the ashtothram. I have to go back over one here or there and say it again. But the point is, when I stumble, I mutter "sorry" and try it again. I get the feeling that Sri Krishna is smiling at my attempt.
Like a father might to a son.
Yes, it's not God we need to fear, it's our own actions.
Thanks, I was going to use an example like that... father to son, one-on-one teacher to student. Waiting patiently and coaching or encouraging while the child completes the task.
Instead of saying, 'That WAS stupid of me!" we need to learn to say, "That WOULD BE stupid of me," and not do anything adharmic to begin with. Fortunately we have remorse, penance, and other strategies to alleviate the repercussions from wrong action.
JaiMaaDurga
Member
Namaste,
I cannot help but mention- the very thread title reminded me instantly
of the Kshama Prarthana Stotram
JAI MATA DI
I cannot help but mention- the very thread title reminded me instantly
of the Kshama Prarthana Stotram
JAI MATA DI
This one? Devi Kshama Prarthana Stotram - Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
This is the main page. Stotra - Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia I've seen this before but I forgot about it. Sometimes the English translations sound "odd". I guess that's why it's best to know the Sanskrit.
Here is something I found in the Bhagavad Gita: Lord I beg Thee, tell me with certainty what will lead to my good. I am Thy disciple. Instruct me, who have taken refuge in Thee. 2.7
This is the main page. Stotra - Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia I've seen this before but I forgot about it. Sometimes the English translations sound "odd". I guess that's why it's best to know the Sanskrit.
Here is something I found in the Bhagavad Gita: Lord I beg Thee, tell me with certainty what will lead to my good. I am Thy disciple. Instruct me, who have taken refuge in Thee. 2.7
Other than Gayatri and chanting mantras and arati etc. my personal prayers are only ever to ask the Lord to guide me to knowing him and being closer to him.
The exception being when I think I might die and then I beg him to protect me
That's the direction I'm heading, just slokas, mantras, and some words asking for protection and guidance. I realized I do talk to him throughout the day, usually in the form of streams of consciouness or mental conversations. I think I was trying to emulate the people I've seen in churches kneeling or people in temple front of a murthi standing there, and I wonder what the heck people pray for. But different strokes for different folks. I just do a namaskar and move on.
Pray there are flowers.
Flowers to offer.
White lotus flowers.
Pray there are bees.
Lots of bees to fly from flower to the next.
Bumble bees, especially.
The white champaka is a beautiful flower, matches the face of the bright Mountain's Daughter. But we do not bring the white champaka, nor the ketaki flower, even Devi is smiling, pray for lots of white Lotus flowers.
Om Namah Sivaya
Flowers to offer.
White lotus flowers.
Pray there are bees.
Lots of bees to fly from flower to the next.
Bumble bees, especially.
The white champaka is a beautiful flower, matches the face of the bright Mountain's Daughter. But we do not bring the white champaka, nor the ketaki flower, even Devi is smiling, pray for lots of white Lotus flowers.
Om Namah Sivaya
Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
Best say 'Thy will be done'.The exception being when I think I might die and then I beg him to protect me
Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
That is nice, ShivaFan.