Prayer to Ishwara
Ishwara
has ordained all of creation such that the law of Karma effects the entire cycle
and system of the world. The
appearance of a new universe from a past one is also dictated by the same moral
law and founded upon moral justice (Dharma) as ordained by the all powerful Ishwara.
Advaita Vedanta also
ascribes Ishwara the power to alter destiny. Ishwara maintains
Dharma and ultimately also controls Karma.
Ishwara has the power to alter the effects too and bestow blessings upon
true devotees (‘Ishwar-Kripa’). In addition to rightfully exercising one’s free
will, it is therefore possible to overcome the effect of prior Karma by true
prayer and devotion to Ishwara.
Paths of worship
Prayer to Ishwara is ultimately all about dissolving one’s
ego to become selfless and being devoted to Ishwara instead of oneself so as to free oneself from the cycle of Karma. The four different paths available to us seeking
Ishwara are through ‘Bhakti Yoga’, ‘Karma Yoga’, ‘Jnana Yoga’ and ‘Raja Yoga’.
Bhakti Yoga characterised by intense love and devotion for
Ishwara leads to surrendering to God with complete unquestioning faith. Devotional prayers may be offered to the idol
of a chosen God be it Vishnu or Shiva or Devi or Ganesha or another ‘Deva’ at
home or in a temple or a shrine using rituals, offerings, chanting and singing
as aids to slowly but surely focus one’s mind entirely on God. This satisfies the primary emotional need to
gain faith and support and eventually grow into loving God more than oneself.
Karma Yoga is the path of prayer through doing one’s duty
with the utmost devotion and selfless sense of service. The aim is to gradually
change from inaction (‘akarma’) and actions driven by selfish purposes (‘sakaam
karma’) to selfless action not rooted in desires or expectations but in service
and duty (‘Nishkaam Karma’). This is possible by placing full faith in the justice
of the all pervasive all seeing God.
Jnana Yoga helps the devotee to renew faith by increasing
awareness and knowledge about the supreme reality of ‘Brahman’. Through
spending years studying and learning the scriptures and assimilating the
information, one slowly begins to realise the identity of God and the ‘self’.
Raja Yoga refers to disciplined effort to control one’s
physical senses and mental thoughts through meditation and physical
conditioning in order to focus on the one God.
These ways of praying to Ishwara can help in improving ones
present and future day to day life despite past Karma. Ultimately however these
prayers lead to an extended understanding of the meaning of life and afterlife.
All four paths are complimentary and just as suitable to be followed in this
day and age. ‘Karma Yoga’ and ‘Bhakti
Yoga’ are the most helpful for beginning to pray until the mind is purified and
the intellect gets more clarity through prayer. It is said that as devotees
progress on their spiritual journey, the Bhakti Yoga and Raja Yoga paths merge
and ultimately the final path consists of pure knowledge and the realization
(‘Bodh’) of God. This is the removal of ignorance (avidya) and illusion (Maya)
to realize oneself and identify with ‘Brahman’.
It is said that one
can learn to pray in stages. Any prayer is better than no prayer, although
selfless prayers are better than worshipping to ask God for favours in return.
This process of praying to ultimately overcome one’s ego and self interests is
an evolutionary one. Starting off by simply following prescribed rituals of
worship with a pure heart is recommended even if it is only done in order to
gain something in return such as good Karma.
