The art of Prarthana

Across, cultures, since times immemorial, Man has prayed to the concept of God (or his understanding of it), for the fulfilment of his desires or abatement of his fears. The word in Sanskrit for prayer is प्रार्थना (Prarthana)  – प्र + अर्थ + युच्  – प्रकर्षेण याचनम् -> literally means Earnest entreaty or request.

To whom should an entreaty be made? Going to a sabji wala to buy shaadi ka lehenga is futile, as is seeking fairness and objectivity from elite MSM journalists…ah well! One can only grant what it is or has. Hence, prarthna also reflects our idea of that to whom the request is being made
What can one request for? End or Means?  While one can “ask for” ends, can someone really “grant” it?

Our ancestors were exemplary in this art of “Prarthana”.  They were people of many desires and weren’t shy of putting it out there. Well being of self and society is pivotal for upholding Dharma. The “Chamakam” of Sri Rudram is one the best examples of this. The Gayatri Mantra most of us already know, where in the request is made to Gayatri – the radiant one, the giver of Life – to illuminate the pleader’s intellect. Gayatri is intelligence, hence intelligence she can grant.
Sample this one – this shloka addressed to Indra in Shukla Yajurveda, in very simple sanskrit. Aaram se samajh aayega.

तेजो ऽसि तेजो मयि धेहि ।   (tejo-asi tejo mayi dhehi)
वीर्यम् असि वीर्यं मयि धेहि ।  (viryam asi viryam mayi dhehi)
बलम् असि बलं मयि धेहि । (balam asi balam mayi dhehi)
ओजो ऽसि ओजो मयि धेहि । (Ojo-asi ojo mayi dhehi)
मन्युर् असि मन्युं मयि धेहि ।  (manyur-asi manyum mahi dhehi)
सहो ऽसि सहो मयि धेहि ॥  (saho-asi saho mayi dhehi)
Word meaning:  असि -> You are, मयि -> in me, धेहि -> put, imbue, तेजस् – radiance, force, वीर्यम् – Valour, बलम् – strength, ओजस् – vitality, मन्यु – zeal,  सह -will/persistence. Put these together and you can translate it yourself very easily

 

You are the energizing radiance, that force, may You infuse in me

You are the heroic figure, that mettle, may You infuse in me.

You are power, the might, that strength, may You infuse in me

You are vitality, that vital potential, may You infuse in me.

You are the fiery zeal, that passion, may You infuse in me.

You are the will to succeed, may You infuse in me.

I love this one for multiple reasons
1) though very simple, when you chant it, you can feel it (experience for yourself)
2) the very idea God in vedic philosophy – as an all pervading passive excellence – that can rub off on us if meditated upon.
3) it doesn’t ask for one time gratification, but seeks equipment that will come handy in all our endeavours.  Because, however capable be our idea of God, Karma is individualistic, nobody can own it for us. Bhagvan can be saarthi, but battle is for our own to fight. He can equip us with intellect, but the choice of destination is for us to make.

ऋतं च मे धर्म: च में कर्म च मे सुमति: च मे
May Dharma prevail! May Satyam prevail!
ॐ शांति!


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