When Amitabh Bachchan was injured during the shooting of the film Coolie and became critically sick, every district in India observed prayers for his wellness. The same happened again when he suddenly fell ill with abdominal pain and underwent another small intestinal perforation repair abdominal surgery. Mass prayers again were held all over the country.

We have been reading in our vedic literature that people have been praying for rain, drought or other natural calamities. It is a routine for people to pray in hospitals for the sick. People also pray regularly for the departed souls.

A usual procedure involves observing a few minutes of silence either individually or in groups. More the number of people observing silences less will be the time taken for the prayer to be effective.

Silence is an inward journey from a disturbed state of mind to an undisturbed state of mind. One shifts from the mind, intellect & ego layer towards a layer of silent consciousness.

When multiple people observes silence at the same time they all get connected with each other in a state described in yoga as ‘ritam’ ‘bhara’ ‘pragya’: a state of mind where the inter-connectivity is at its peak with no resistance or obstacles. The communication is instantaneous and faster than the speed of the light.

Intent is an important component of silence. Intent is the actually prayer. When everybody prays the same the intent becomes very powerful. Any intent inserted in the field of infinite possibilities during silence is likely to have results. Mass prayers with the same intent are known to produce miracles.

In ancient times prayers ending up with rain or better harvesting of the crop are the classical examples. Intent can be positive or negative.

People who have acquired ‘siddhi’ or yogic powers through intent can instantaneously produce results. The curse given by the ‘rishis’ and ‘munis’ are classic examples.

Mass intent also produces instantaneous results. The effect of the intent through prayer during the silence can be on the resistance power of the patient in question or the state of mind of the treating doctor or the surgeon. When the prayer is for the surgeon or the doctor the level of serotonin will increase in the blood of the treating doctor and the doctor is likely to fumble less during the procedure.

In normal circumstances it is often seen that more VIP a patient is more are the chances of ending up with complications. This is because of the high anxiety levels of the doctor treating with the aim of giving 100 per cent. When the doctor has confidence that the public prayers are with him his psyche shifts his state of mind from sympathetic mode to para sympathetic mode ending up with tran-quility of physical and mental actions.

A prayer to be effective has to be a yogic prayer and not a recited prayer. Yoga is a union of mind with the body and yogic prayer therefore is a prayer where the person is absorbed into the contents of the prayer. The image of his beloved for whom he or she is praying is in front of the eyes. Or the image of the God is in front of the yes to whom he or she is asking for a particular boon.

Scientifically it has been approved that sub-conscious mind is listening. There are studies available from the intensive care where unconscious persons were divided into two groups. One group was treated with prayer silently and with people talking positive in the front of the patient and the other group with no prayer and doctors discussing that he is not going to survive. The results have been remarkable. The group with the prayer and positive talk fared better versus the other group.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi once said that the critical mass for prayer is 1%. If 1% of the population prays together with a common intent the intent will miraculously get fulfilled.

Dr. KK Aggarwal is President, Heart Care Foundation of India, and Chairman, IMA Academy of Medical Specialities.

 

Dr.KK Aggarwal