Prayer and meditation
Many Hindus refer to prayer as prarthana. This may be personal prayer asking or thanking the divineA way of saying 'God' but gets across the Hindu idea of God better because it can include different forms - gods, goddesses, animal forms and nature. for blessings in life, or repeating a particular mantraA sacred (holy) prayer or word which often is chanted or sung rather than just spoken. or other prayer.
Many Hindus believe that through experience and meditationThinking quietly as a spiritual or religious exercise. Connection of the mind and soul with the Divine using breathing and other techniques. In Buddhism, using one of a set of techniques or exercises for calming the mind, developing positive emotions and understanding the way things are. they can gain knowledge of Supreme Spirit BrahmanHindu belief in one true god, the Supreme Spirit, called Brahman, symbolised by the sacred syllable aum (or om). All beings are a part of Brahman.. This is a personal experience, reached individually.
Some meditate by chanting sacred verses, or by repeating aum (om)Known as the 'sacred syllable', this sound and symbol is used by many Hindus to convey how deep and complex the divine is.. Others may use breath control, known as pranayam, or controlled breathing and body postures, what most people commonly call 'yoga'.
Other focuses of meditation include the use of a malaA string of beads used by some Sikhs and Buddhists as an aid to prayer. or a mandala, a complex pattern that concentrates the mind, meaning everyday thoughts are cleared away.
Many Hindus who meditate believe it enables them to connect with the divine on a spiritual level in a way that other forms of worship, eg performing rituals, does not.
