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Prayer and its significance

Writer's picture: guptabs09guptabs09

Updated: Sep 6, 2024

Prayer and meditation for mental health

Prayer is our communication with the God, the Invisible but the Reality. It is pouring out our heart before Him. The things which we are reluctant to disclose to others are laid bare before Him.

Faith and prayer are age-old techniques for healing in all most all religions. In yoga, the concept of prayer is widely used. In our tradition, we start our day with prayer, for starting anything new, we pray, in good times we pray and bad times too we pray. Even science, particularly doctors, admits that prayer has a wonderful healing tool, and it is believed that when nothing works, prayer works.

Prayer is effective only when we possess unwavering faith in God, pray sincerely, and fully surrender our mind, heart, and everything to the Divine for His power to act upon it.

Prayer and Health

1. Induces a feeling of relief and relaxation-

We all experience a sense of relief and relaxation after engaging in a heartfelt prayer. Prayer assists us in finding peace and rejuvenating ourselves before returning to our tasks.

2. Belief in Higher Reality-

Most of us believe that there exists a Higher Force and none exists above Him. Having prayed to Him, the Almighty, we have a feeling- “Now only Good will happen to us”. We surrender ourselves completely to His care. This feeling itself aids healing and relieves all stress.


3. Positive feelings


Through prayer, one can evoke feelings of hope, a sense of universal brotherhood (acknowledging our common origin), empathy, compassion, and gratitude. These qualities contribute to inner peace and foster a positive outlook on life.

4. Strengthens Para sympathetic nervous system

When prayer brings calm or uplifts, it has a similar soothing impact on our nervous system and other bodily systems, especially the endocrine system. This overall calming effect triggers the secretion of hormones in accordance with the body's needs - not too much, not too little. It specifically releases happy hormones, such as dopamine and serotonin. Thus, prayer helps integrate the entire individual - body, mind, and spirit - in a balanced manner.

Prayer and meditation are beneficial to mental health, too.

1) Stress reduction. Both meditation and prayer are effective in alleviating stress. They can assist you in escaping life's worries and achieving a tranquil state of mind. Devoting just 15 minutes daily can significantly enhance peace and relaxation for both your body and mind. Despite being a brief daily commitment, the positive impact can last for hours.

2. Enhanced well-being. Numerous studies have showed that prayer and meditation contribute to improved health. Typically, these health advantages, such as reduced blood pressure and lower risk of heart disease, result from decreased stress levels. Physical ailments are often a manifestation of internal unrest, which prayer and meditation can help resolve.

3. Enhanced management of your thoughts. Experiencing negative thoughts occasionally is a common aspect of human nature. Individuals under stress often feel powerless in influencing their thoughts. This leads to heightened stress levels, increased irritability, and eventually, conflicts. Nonetheless, integrating prayer and meditation into your routine enables you to regulate your thoughts and counter negative thinking promptly. This practice contributes to maintaining a peaceful state of mind.

4. Happiness. Peace of mind and happiness are genuine rewards of practicing meditation and prayer. Everyone strives for happiness, and when you achieve peace of mind through prayer and meditation, you also invite happiness into your life. Engaging in personal reflection allows you to deepen your understanding of your purpose in this life, enabling you to value all the experiences you have encountered, both positive and negative. Through meditation and prayer, you can eliminate the negative thoughts that jeopardize your peace of mind.

5. Improved focus. Engaging in prayer and meditation invites peace and calmness into your mind, influencing your overall lifestyle. By reducing stress, you enhance your ability to concentrate on significant aspects like family or work• Consistent prayer and meditation can broaden your attention to various areas of your life.

Prayer and Mantras in text


Feel free to select any prayer that resonates with you. The specific prayer you choose doesn't matter; what's important is your faith, trust, surrender, and sincerity.

We give below some prayers that are being said for time immemorial.

त्वमेव माता च पिता त्वमेव

त्वमेव बन्धुश्च सखा त्वमेव

त्वमेव विद्या द्रविणम् त्वमेव

त्वमेव सर्वम् मम देव देव

गायत्री मन्त्र

ॐ भूर् भुवः स्वः।

तत् सवितुर्वरेण्यं।

भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि।

धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥


दूसरे मन्त्र

श्री राम जय राम जय जय राम

हरे राम हरे राम राम राम हरे हरे। हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे।।


ॐनम: शिवाए

श्री मन नारायण नारायण नारायण, भज मन नारायण नारायण नारायण ।।

Practice Point

While it may initially be challenging to find time for prayer and meditation, establishing a routine can be simpler than you imagine. Take just 5–7 minutes in a peaceful spot at home to unwind and embrace tranquility. Allocating this brief period each day for yourself to pray and cultivate inner peace is essential. Although the rewards of prayer and meditation are numerous, mastering them may require dedication and persistence. With time, you will enjoy the benefits of this invaluable practice in your life and appreciate the effort you put in.

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