Ram Krishna Paramhansa sang touching prayers. Thakur Ram Krishna Dev is praying at the feet of Ma Jagadamba, “O Jagadamba Ma! I surrender myself to your grace. Always keep me totally immersed in you. I am not seeking the pleasure of senses. I do not look for fame or supernatural powers. I am only searching for love for you through my heart. Allow the Ganga of my love to grow and expand. Let this current of my life immersed in you, as it moves.

O Jagadamba Ma! Give or do not give other things to me but do give me a love for your feet.” How fascinating is this prayer! It is rare to love, unblemished by any desire – ‘I love you, but let me not ask for worldly things in the name of your love. Do not dissuade me. Treat me as a child, or persuade me to accept worldly gifts because I am not at all interested in worldly possessions. Let passions not blind me in my love for you! Let me never forget you. Ma, do not you know that I do not have anyone else other than you in this world. I want to sing your glory. I want to dance for you. I want to call you. Fill that energy in me which draws me to you. Let me not get lost in the world and for this, I crave your grace. Kindly accept this. I do not want anything else.’

There is a very innocent prayer in the Vedas. When you think of this prayer you say: Should a man speak like that and use words like that. Prayer is never a play of words or to play on words. If you think carefully or ponder then it is not a prayer. It is not that he listens to mantras only.

Someone prayed in a very strange manner – a European. He wrote alphabets from A to Z on his palm and then folding his hands he said to God to frame a prayer of his choice because that man was not a lettered or an educated man. He said he did not know anything. Therefore, God should combine those letters and form a suitable prayer for Himself. He folded his hands and bowed his head. He did not know anything more than this.

The prayer in the Vedas is, “O God! Is it ever possible that you become me and I become you? Is there a possibility of grace so that I am not I, but assume your form? You may not remain you but take my form. Then your blessings to me will certainly materialize. The way you want to see me that which you want me to become – all those things will definitely be realized. Therefore, let there be an opportunity that I am transformed into you, and you become me.” God has been straightway invited, given an offer of exchanging positions. He becomes me; I become Him.

You saw me crying and let me cry, but dear God when you will weep in the form of man, I assure you that I will not let you cry. Whatever is within my competence will be showered upon you. God! Then I will forget all rules and regulations because no rules or regulations work for the crying and tormented person. Only grace works. I will bathe in your grace. You give me an opportunity so that I assume your status and you mine.”

Take me away from Untruth and Lead me to Truth. For Krishna, too, the souls immersed in his desire also prayed in a similar manner, “O Krishna! Let this happen once that you assume our position and we occupy your status.” Such wild currents do rise in devotion – Bhakti. This wave has its own pleasure. Therefore, pray for the formation of this wave, and never allow this wave to disintegrate,

“Asato ma sadgamaya tamaso ma jyotirgamaya mrityorma amritam gamaya.”

O Lord, take me away from untruth and lead me to The truth. Separate me from suffering and take me to happiness. Tamaso ma jyotirgamaya – Take me out of the darkness and lead me to light. Free me from sufferings, death, and allow me to attain immortality. We should do what we do with children initially. We ask them to repeat their lessons. You should do the same thing in prayer at home, in the family.

Enable us to receive Your Grace: Speak the words of prayer, ask the family to repeat them, just as the priest does in the church. There, too, it is the devotees who are asked to speak out the prayer, “O God, Show me the way. Let me learn my relation with you and take me on to the path of truth. You alone are the God of my redemption. Open my eyes of knowledge, so that I may be able to see your loving and wonderful things, so that I may recognize your love. O Aura of light! Lead us on the right path. Let us get wealth and facilities as we traverse the path of the correct life. Do not give me happiness and facilities if I have to walk on the wrong path. Take me also on the right path as you have taken ideal persons, great thinkers, and men of knowledge. Snatch away from me all of my bad habits such as harshness, shrewdness, deceit, fraud, the habit of cheating, and manipulations. Enable me to sing songs of your glory, your praise in many ways. Give me the spirit of dedication. Give me the strength to sing for you and the courage to bow before you and to persuade you to like me.” It is a special prayer, here, “God! You are the leader of the right path. Show me the way.”

“O God in the form of knowledge! Lead me on to the right path. O, God! Show me the path which has been adopted by the men of wisdom and contemplation. Take me to piety” Jews pray. See and know their prayer, “Let us be the men who obey your order and be competent to follow your rules and regulations. We should never sin. We should never get into greed and we should never be insulted by anyone. Keep us away from all kinds of evils. Enable us to receive your grace. I thank You, God.” Here the words are worth observing – ‘You have blessed your devotees with your kindness and grace. Your grace is not for the people living at one fixed or a particular place. Your blessings are for your devotees, wherever they are.’

Prayers are there in all religions and in all sects. Plants and trees all over the world have flowers blooming and wafting sweet scent. One, who can appreciate good qualities, loves and appreciates every flower. It does not matter where the flower has blossomed forth – in India, in Europe, in North or in the South. Every flower is valuable and precious, and every fruit is important.
Let me not come to Your Door, begging for Myself O God: There is one more prayer, “O God! If you can give, give me that strength, those sources, and resources that enable me to help the poor and needy. Bless me with the boon of resources. Let me not come to your door, begging for myself. Whenever I ask, allow me to ask for others. Let me wish well for others.”

The next prayer has another wish, “O God! Give me good qualities, good feelings and good conduct. But before you give me anything, test me on the criterion whether I deserve it or not. If I do not deserve then do not give me anything.

Listen to the prayers of all others for they are entitled to pray to you and grant them more than what they deserve. But to me, give less than what I deserve. Additionally, grant and give me the love of Thy feet, whether or not you give me anything else. These are the flowers of my prayer. Accept them.” We pray at the feet of God with these flowers that there is well-being in all hearts and homes, peace, and happiness in all families.