Fate and Prayer

(Adapted from a lecture of Swami Paramatmananda)

We  have a saying in the scriptures:

harinapi  harenapi  brahmanapi  surairapi I

lalata  likhita  rekha  parimarshtum  nashakyate II

(Even Vishnu, Siva, Brahma and Gods cannot erase (or change) what is written on the forehead)

Tamil poet Tiruvalluvar echoes this idea in Thirukkural (38-10):

ஊழிற் பெருவலி யாவுள மற்றொன்று

சூழினும் தான் முந்துறும்

(Is there anything mightier than fate? It cannot be defeated by any means (It prevails over all efforts to conquer it))

But we have in our scriptures instances where through prayer fate has been overcome.  The classic instance is that of Markandeya who through special prayer to Lord Siva conquered death and lives even to this day as Chiranjeevi.  We have also the famous instance of Savithri outwitting Yama and securing a fresh lease of life for her husband, Sathiavan.  So we have a doubt whether fate can be changed through sincere prayer or cannot be changed through any amount of earnest prayer.  Swami Paramathmananda says that if one understand the true meaning of the term fate then one will discover the answer to the question, “Whether prayer can change the fate?” as “Yes and No” and not as “yes” only or as “No” only.  This will become clear when we understand the term ‘fate’ properly.

Fate is translated in Tamil as Vidhi (விதி), standing for the happening of events outside a person's control, regarded as the writing of Lord Brahmaji on the person’s forehead at the time of birth.  Even if this is true, Lord cannot write arbitrarily whatever he chooses to on the head of anyone for that will make him a partial Lord. In fact fate is a general term for Karmaphalam that influences the happenings in one’s life, both good and bad. Karma means action and action varies both qualitatively and quantitatively from individual to individual.  Karmaphalam means result of past actions and include the ones that which come from previous births as well known as prarabdham.  As karma varies, among individuals, karmaphalam also varies qualitatively and quantitatively. They are broadly classified into two groups; durbalaprarabdam or durbalavidhi and prabalaprarabdam or prabhalavidhi.  Durbalavidhi is the weaker karmaphalam based on a milder action and prabhalavidhi is the stonger karmaphalam based on powerful action.

Now we will revisit the question “Can fate be changed by prayer?”  In case of durbalavidhi we can say yes, as durbalavidhi can be weakened and altered to manageable proportions or even be eradicated by sincere prayer with devotion. But in the case of prabhalavidhi prayer will not mitigate or nullify the ordeal but gives one the mental fortitude and strength to go through with the difficulties that fate subjects one to, with mental resilience.  So in the case of prabhalavidhi the answer to the question “Can fate be changed by prayer?” is ‘No’ , a qualified No as prayer gives one the mental strength to absorb the shocks of adverse fate.

So prayers that form part of our religious tradition are useful in the case of both durbhalavidhi and prabhalavidhi.   As we cannot know whether any problem is due to durbalavidhi or prabhalavidhi, let us pray in addition as follows while praying for His Grace and help to tide over the problems presented by fate.

 “Please let me have the skill and effort to solve the problem if I can, and the strength and faith to bear with the problem cheerfully, if I cannot” 

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