If everything happens as per our karma, what is the use of prayers?
A Girl devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
Hare krishna prabhu ji. I have a query. I am in Krishna consciousness from my very childhood as my parents are krishna devotees. With age my consciousness & belief for krishna increased day by day for every failure, every problem I took it to be my karma and thought shri Radha Krishna has done everything for my betterment only as our guruji always say o continued my prayers with a belief that with krishna’s mercy everything will change to b better bt that didn’t happen .Is there no fruit for prayers? Is it only karma that matters?Can’t lord help the kalyugi people who have calling for his mercy?there would b some limitations in me as well my offerings but does that mean Bhagwan listen only if we r
perfect?
REPLY:
Prayers do have values and effects. But, some times, prayers give benefits immediately. Sometimes, it takes time. Some times, it has no effect at all.
How?
My firm view about the use of prayers is that every prayer should accompany a determination, ie, sankalp. If there is no sankalp, but, only prayers from lips, then, it may not have any effects.
(Why double rewards in heavens and next birth for Good karma? READ HERE!)
That means, when we pray to Krishna to escape us from the court case filed against us for violating the government rules, we should first determine that we will never violate the government rules in future. If you pray for escape but, will be continuing to violate rules even after praying, then, your prayers will give no effects.
So, if you pray to the Lord to forgive your sins, then, you should stop such sinning again. You should get reformed through your determined careful life.
In other words, you should feel guilty for your actions and then pray. You should not expect the Lord to protect you from every mistake you commit. It will never happen.
(Doubts on the judiciary system (Karma) of Krishna – Explanation! READ HERE!)
Krishna can give relief from your karma. But, He uses that selectively. If you totally stop or desert your attachments from materialistic way of life, and surrender to the Lord, then, Krishna will forgive all your past karma. If you pray for excuse from karma and continue to involve in materialistic way of life, ie, living for your pleasures, then, no excuse will be given from karma.
However, the Lord acts in a particular way for those who even pray casually without deserting attachments. If you pray to Lord for excuse from mistake without detached mindset, Krishna may reduce the severity of your karmic reactions and helps you to bear that karma. Non devotees may feel karmic reactions as it is. Devotees may have less severity. That’s all.
For example, if you have been destined to have an accident, if you are worshipping Krishna, you may escape from that accident with some minor injuries. However, unless we detach from material way of life, Krishna does not postpone death of a devotee.
So, though karma is also a wonderful justice system of Krishna, the devotees get some reduction in the severity of reactions. If he is a detached devotee who does not have even a trace of material attachments, he is fully protected from karmic reactions.
(If divorce is fixed by karma, what is the use of seeing horoscopes? READ HERE!)
This is the system. That is why, advanced/ matured devotees will not request Krishna for any benefits or concessions. They just show their love to Krishna and Lord definitely protects them by giving them whatever is beneficial for their spiritual advancement.
In my case, Krishna supplied money as I was struggling to follow devotion because of my financial crisis. Krishna decided that I will advance further in His devotion if I am relieved from money problem. So, He cleared all my loans like a miracle. I too did not disappoint Krishna and I am trying my level best to lead the simplest life possible possessing only those things that are important for a normal living.
In some cases, Krishna takes all the money of the persons if money is hindering their devotional growth.
However, for non devotees or not-serious devotees, Krishna allows them under the full control of karma network and they get more or less money and comforts based on their past karma. Krishna does not show special sight in protecting them from their problems. They get or lose everything as per their karma.
Hope you are clear about the use of prayers though everything happens as per our karma.
(Role of Free will in adding or avoiding karma! Detailed Explanation! READ HERE!)