What is the best means of praying to the Lord?
The Lord can be prayed to by means of Kirtana, Japa, Dhyana or Bhajan. In every one of these, the chief items is the Divine Name. That is why Krishna spoke in Gita of japa-yajna. When japa is done, it is better to recite aloud, and make it bhajan. This will inspire the gathering. If Bhajan is sung in a sweet voice, people will be drawn towards the Lord. Gradually, it will develop into the Love for God, and His Grace will follow in due course. One should patiently wait for the grace.The best form of prayer is Santhi-mantra : “Asatho maa sadgamaya; thamaso maa jyothirgamaya; mrityor maa amrithamgamaya.” The meaning of this mantra is :
“Oh Lord, when I am deriving happiness through the objects of this world, make me forget the unreal objects and show me the way to permanent happiness;
Oh Lord, when the objects of the world attract me, remove the darkness which hides the all-pervading Atma, which every such object really is; and
Oh Lord, bless me through Your Grace with immortality or Paramananda, resulting from the awareness of the effulgence of the Atma, immanent in every object.”
(Prashanti Vahini, pg 18)
