lighting of lamps prescribed in those Puranas, especially Kartika Purana, that millions of people religiously follow – is there any benefit is.. are we adding punya/positive karma by doing these even though our intent is self benefit. When prayer/rituals are done with a sankalpa – what kind of karma are we accumulating? I think if it is done without any desires, as a way of gratitude, then it is real prayer and moves us closer to the divine.
Fasting is done to purify one's own body.Fasting is never done to please God. What would God get by you fasting?:). Have you noticed when we do any pujas or homas with full stomach, the mind is just not in one place, we might feel a little sleepy also. We wouldn’t even know what proper sankalpa to take as the intellect takes a back seat when the stomach is full. When its full with junk food, it all the more messes up things. So when we take any sankalpa with a calm mind, and an empty stomach :),it is more likely to get fructified. Why? Because the sankalpa we take will be beneficial for us and people around. Those type of sankalpas will easily get manifested. Nature is intelligent, it doesn’t easily fulfill all our sankalps as the nature knows what is best for us.
Water has the ability to carry vibrations. On the banks of the river, many saints would have meditated,prayed from time immemorial and also the rivers carry herbs and healing medicines as it flows. So, to take holy dip is again to purify our body and mind. You are free to have any desire. Nature is eagerly waiting to fulfill your desire but in the long run it should be for your benefit and other also. You can have intentions and desires, but if the desires start having you, consuming you to the extent you become obsessive or paranoid then know that you are accumulating karmas. For me personally, the best form of sankalpa or prayer is to say “ Let thy will be done”. I am here for you and you do whatever is best for me. Reading and following any purana is to help us raise our sattva. And the more sattvic we are, the more we are close to the divine and the more easily our wishes get fulfilled.
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