Prarthana Samaj, or “Prayer Society” in Sanskrit, was a movement for religious and social reform in Bombay, India, based on earlier reform movements. Prarthana Samaj was founded by Atmaram Pandurang on 31 March 1867 when Keshub Chandra Sen visited Maharashtra with the aim of making people believe in one God and worship only one God.
It became popular after Mahadev Govind Ranade joined. The main reformers were intellectuals who advocated reforms in the social order of Hindus. It was spread in South India by the famous Telugu reformer and writer Kandukuri Veeresalingam.
Prayer means asking God for something in a reverent attitude. But the word is used also to denote any devotional act… But definition apart, what is it that millions of Hindus, Musalmans, Christians and Jews and others do every day during the time set aside for the adoration of the Maker? It seems to me that it is a yearning of the heart to be one with the Maker, an invocation for His blessings. It is in this case the attitude that matters, not words uttered or muttered.
And often the association of words that have been handed down from ancient times has an effect which in their rendering into one’s mother-tongue they will lose altogether. Thus the Gayatri translated and recited in, say, Gujarati, will not have the same effect as the original. The utterance of the word Rama will instantly affect millions of Hindus, when the word God, although they may understand the meaning, will leave them untouched. Words after all acquire a power by long usage and sacredness associated with their use. There is much, therefore, to be said for the retention of old Sanskrit formulas for the most prevalent mantras or verses. That the meaning of them should be properly understood goes without saying.
Prarthana sammelan 2023/24
Can physical strength help us overcome obstacles and challenges in the spiritual realm? No, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). But in prayer even the physically weak can become strong in the spiritual realm. As such, we can call upon God to grant us power over evil.PRARTHNA SAMMELAN 2023/24
“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” -1 Timothy 4:8
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak
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