tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010233.post2696505435850187900..comments2023-09-16T11:45:53.313-04:00Comments on Transmogrified: On PrayerTransmogrifierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07660198214260692183noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010233.post-4359126698714107852011-04-22T19:28:32.907-04:002011-04-22T19:28:32.907-04:00Nice post! It is interesting that you mention the ...Nice post! It is interesting that you mention the Sandhyavandanam in a blog post about the few of your favorite prayers. Sandhyavandanam, is a kind of anti-thesis of the simple prayer. You worship not just Gayatri and the sun, but at least a few dozen other entities. <br /><br />Btw, it is interesting that even in Kannada we call Upanayanam as 'munji'. I've been noticing several such similarities in rituals, food, and language between Marathi and Kannada, in spite of the two languages being from different branches, and the geographical divide between the farthest points of the two states.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010233.post-70421992213505918832010-04-24T19:28:38.075-04:002010-04-24T19:28:38.075-04:00@Harmanjit: If I understand your comment correctly...@Harmanjit: If I understand your comment correctly, you are saying don't analyze it too much or the prayer will lose it efficacy. If that is indeed your argument that I think it is incorrect. What I am trying to say is that prayer - which I believe is a form of expressing gratitude to the gifts of life - is an innate human need. The rational understanding that there is no "outside agent" who is going to answer my prayer has nothing to do with the efficacy of the prayer. <br /><br />We have evolved with a sweet tooth too. Rational understanding that we should control the intake of sugar now that we consume it in a more concentrated form doesn't quite help most of us. We indulge in it anyway. Same goes with emotional needs too.Transmogrifierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07660198214260692183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010233.post-36784605374538350602010-04-22T22:57:42.177-04:002010-04-22T22:57:42.177-04:00A genuine and simple interpretation about Prayer. ...A genuine and simple interpretation about Prayer. This post gives me a great satisfaction while reading as it expresses a lot of thoughts that I have and believe in. Prayer should only be a medium to express one's gratitude and to build a strong sense of force which helps to avoid all kinds of evil. The force may come from within ourselves, it does not have to be an external source(God). I do not follow rigorous prayer rituals but I have my faith.I believe that anything which gives immense satisfaction and peace of mind which would also lead to a better balance and approach in life can certainly be followed for the self but not out of any societal obligations. Hours of prayers will do no good if it cannot drill any sense of morality or goodness in an individual.People must attain a sense of the purpose in doing things rather than follow a trend.Logicianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08879027565924978892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010233.post-53687605557654219512010-04-20T09:29:19.813-04:002010-04-20T09:29:19.813-04:00While I feel like you do, I couldn't have expr...While I feel like you do, I couldn't have expressed it as well. <br /><br />I don't know if there is a recipient to my prayer, but I find that it is meditative and forces me to inculcate a sense of gratitude, and perhaps contemplate the idea of the infinite. (I don't know if I believe in god. But, the "infinite" is a universal concept that I think the atheists and theists can both appreciate. It makes for good contemplation) <br /><br />There's also something powerful about chanting that puts you in a different frame of mind, which I find hard to experience in any other way. It's uplifting. <br /><br />I read a book recently that said the profundity of chanting is best experienced by not understanding. I think I agree, even though there are times when I wish I understood!<br /><br />Thanks for this post. It was stimulating.Idyll Mindhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15655749311573488198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010233.post-62908330306606237952010-04-20T03:28:25.217-04:002010-04-20T03:28:25.217-04:00Your approach is called *nirguna aradhana* .But bh...Your approach is called *nirguna aradhana* .But bhagavat gita says that is impossible for normal people. and *bhakti* is required.<br />I havent been to a temple or prayed for like 10-12 years now..<br />BUt I do follow Bhagavat Gita and other commentries and <br />an Advaita Vedanti...in shortKannannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010233.post-75645311019964307512010-04-20T03:05:33.346-04:002010-04-20T03:05:33.346-04:00Thanks to Gawker for tweeting this link, really en...Thanks to Gawker for tweeting this link, really enjoyed reading this post. Growing up the only prayers I ever learnt were the ones we said in school but studying in a convent prayers were part of daily life just like eating our meals were and yes they were delightful and melodious to sing. Currently even if I am sure there is no one out there who can change things or grant wishes there are times when praying comes so naturally, something that I don’t have to stifle or question now :)Kusum Rohrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03104134916421911604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010233.post-41232001959865988942010-04-19T22:31:24.260-04:002010-04-19T22:31:24.260-04:00An amount of unquestioning is required for affecti...An amount of unquestioning is required for affective pleasures such as this. Beware of thinking too much that it is an "empty wish" or "make believe" and your prayer will lose its sweetness. You are a willing believer for the time when you pray, at that time you are living "from the heart", as it were. I look askance at this article itself, since this is intellect intruding where it should not, but I know you are authentic individual, who wishes to live consistently. Not a good idea. I am entirely serious.<br /><br />http://harmanjit.blogspot.com/2010/04/aphorisms-on-intellect.htmlHarmanjit Singhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14714797381673153973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010233.post-62428878189954811822010-04-19T20:52:45.246-04:002010-04-19T20:52:45.246-04:00@Gawker and Patrix: I agree, I simply don't li...@Gawker and Patrix: I agree, I simply don't like to recite some of the Shloka's and Stotras mainly because I know what they mean now and the meaning doesn't appeal to me. I guess each of us can find their own way to vent the desire to express gratitude. Some may prefer a more active way of doing it. For me, in some ways, good poetry and music too are taking the place of prayer.Transmogrifierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07660198214260692183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010233.post-61203877467127411642010-04-19T19:23:38.660-04:002010-04-19T19:23:38.660-04:00A delightful read. I identified with learning and ...A delightful read. I identified with learning and reciting shlokas growing up but as gawker said, the motivation to pray has diminished simply because it doesn't really change the outcomes. And then you realize you've stumbled upon the greatest con job ever.Patrixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17292165821920078717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11010233.post-87644927639069959662010-04-19T18:40:47.816-04:002010-04-19T18:40:47.816-04:00Beautiful post. Many a times I've felt like pr...Beautiful post. Many a times I've felt like praying but always stifled the urge because it always leads to the same question, who's listening? I just can't seem to get past that question.gawkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17081710140055676484noreply@blogger.com