“ What can I do , it is my fate ” . It is not uncommon to hear people bemoan their fate . Many people believe we are destined to meet our fate but still seek a way out . One of the questions often asked is whether fate can be changed by prayer . This is an eternally debated question . Some argue for and some against . Interestingly , both groups claim scriptural support .
Those who believe fate cannot be changed quote a well known Sanskrit sloka that says whatever is written on one’s forehead cannot be changed by even Vishnu , Shiva , Brahma or any other God . If suffering is our fate , we are destined to suffer . Even if we are able to escape suffering now by some means or the other , we will have to face it later . Even though fate is unavoidable , this group believes in the efficacy of prayer . The question arises – if fate is inevitable , why pray ? Prayer is not meant to change fate but to give strength to face adverse circumstances or situations in life if that be our fate .
The second group believes fate can be changed by prayer and cite any
number of Puranic stories . Even the worst fate of death can be changed
by the Lord . The story of Markandeya is well known . This devotee of
the Lord who was given a life of only sixteen years but at the end of
the allotted time span , Lord Shiva appeared and saved Markandeya from
Yama . Markandeya went on to live to ripe old age . This great devotee
composed a prayer on Shiva titled Chandrasekhara Ashtakam that says , “
what can Lord Yama do ?…Lord Shiva destroys all fate . I myself am the
example . ” The story of Satyavan and Savitri is another example .
Which group is correct ? Can vidhi or fate can be changed by prayer or not ? This question has a unique answer . Both groups are correct . Naturally the question arises – How can both groups be correct ? If one is right , the other has to be wrong . The problem arises because we use the word ‘fate’ loosely , giving it many meanings . Fate can be defined as karma-phalam (result) of one’s actions in the past and present . Fate is not something written on our forehead by Brahmaji according to His whims and fancies . If so , the Lord will be partial .
Fate can be broadly classified into two categories : durbala vidhi ( weak karma-phalam ) and prabala vidhi ( strong karma-phalam ) . When the issue ‘ Can fate be changed by prayer ’ is raised , we must first clarify what type of fate is meant – durbala or prabala . Durbala vidhi can be weakened or even totally eradicated by prayer while prabala vidhi cannot be changed by prayer . However , prayer will give us the strength to face adversity .
Therefore , prayer works in twofold manner . Prayer mitigates or destroys durbala vidhi and gives us the strength and immunity to bear prabala vidhi .
~ Swami Paramarthananda Saraswati
Which group is correct ? Can vidhi or fate can be changed by prayer or not ? This question has a unique answer . Both groups are correct . Naturally the question arises – How can both groups be correct ? If one is right , the other has to be wrong . The problem arises because we use the word ‘fate’ loosely , giving it many meanings . Fate can be defined as karma-phalam (result) of one’s actions in the past and present . Fate is not something written on our forehead by Brahmaji according to His whims and fancies . If so , the Lord will be partial .
Fate can be broadly classified into two categories : durbala vidhi ( weak karma-phalam ) and prabala vidhi ( strong karma-phalam ) . When the issue ‘ Can fate be changed by prayer ’ is raised , we must first clarify what type of fate is meant – durbala or prabala . Durbala vidhi can be weakened or even totally eradicated by prayer while prabala vidhi cannot be changed by prayer . However , prayer will give us the strength to face adversity .
Therefore , prayer works in twofold manner . Prayer mitigates or destroys durbala vidhi and gives us the strength and immunity to bear prabala vidhi .
~ Swami Paramarthananda Saraswati
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