We fondly remember our childhood days when we were in school. During exams, before leaving for each paper, we would go to the small prayer space at home, seek blessings from God, and request Him to help us pass with good marks. On regular days, we would bow before God mostly during festivals, and that too at the insistence of our elders. But during exams, whether told or not, we would go to God on our own.
As we grew a little older, along with success in exams, we began to pray for other wishes as well. In those days, our needs were quite limited — a new school bag, a pen, or a new dress. If we gathered enough courage, we might even ask for a bicycle. Before asking our father, we would pray to God to make him say “yes.” And when any of these wishes were fulfilled, we would excitedly share the news with our friends at school.
As time passed, we entered youth. We started visiting temples to seek blessings for college admissions and later for a good job. Once we became somewhat settled, our parents began searching for a suitable life partner for us. In those days, most marriages were arranged. Love marriages were rare, and when they did happen, they became a topic of much discussion. The family played a significant role in selecting a suitable partner, often reaching out to distant relatives for suggestions. Alongside all these efforts, elders in the family would certainly seek God’s blessings.
After marriage, life expanded. Children were born, and we became busy raising them and earning a livelihood. At the same time, we continued our daily prayers without fail. One important reason for this was that children observe and learn from our actions — this is how values are passed on. Celebrating festivals together, performing aarti at home and in temples with children, brought immense joy. Visiting pilgrimage places as a family was also a common practice. Despite the lack of modern conveniences in those days, we never really felt any discomfort.
Today, however, places like Vrindavan and other pilgrimage destinations are so crowded that there is always a fear of something going wrong. News often comes of unfortunate incidents where people, who went for darshan, lost their lives due to excessive crowding. In such situations, elderly people must be especially careful while visiting temples.
In old age, we perhaps no longer pray for earning more wealth. Instead, we pray that our children remain happy, progress in life, and that everyone in the family stays healthy. For ourselves, we wish only that we remain in good health and that in our final days, we do not suffer much, nor cause distress to our family due to failing health.
At times, a thought crosses the mind — how self-centered we are. At every stage of life, we approach God with some request. In childhood, our desires were different; in youth, they changed; and now, they are something else. Yet, it is our faith and devotion that give us the courage to place these wishes before God.
This morning, I was listening to a broadcast on Vividh Bharati. Along with old songs, the channel often shares thoughtful and insightful messages. A story was narrated about what we ask from God. A disciple and a guru were praying before God. The disciple asked the guru, “We always ask for something when we pray — what did you ask for?” The guru replied, “What is there to ask from God? He is omniscient. He already knows what we need, and He knows when and how to fulfill it. We simply need to have unwavering faith and devotion in Him.”
