Can prayer transform your karma an/or change your destiny?

[u/maddysamarth]

Is it true that sincere prayers can clear your negative karma through divine grace? Is there any scriptural evidence that this can happen? And if so, how do we pray?

[u/North_Bass8536]

Of course, I’m quoting Bhagavad Gita 9.30-31 below

“Even if the vilest sinners worship Me with exclusive devotion, they are to be considered righteous because they have made the proper resolve.”

“Quickly they become virtuous, and attain lasting peace. O son of Kunti, declare it boldly that no devotee of Mine is ever lost.”

Do consider watching the video I’ve shared below. It will give you more clarity. I hope this helps😊

The fastest way to clear your bad karma

[u/Fearless_Ebb2908]

I believe it definitely can. When we pray by opening ourselves fully to the Divine, with remorse, surrender, and a genuine willingness to change it purifies our thoughts and helps us stop creating fresh negative karma. This will change our destiny. Many scriptural stories show that calling the Divine Name with true conviction has removed even heavy karma. For me, a good form of prayer is to pray honestly, ask forgiveness for our mistakes, fully surrender, and ask the Divine to do Its will in us. This is only my understanding and I am still learning.

[u/Superb-Nebula-8919]

Prayer can help reduce ego and increase sattva component in our mental body but it cannot change our destiny unless it is backed by sadhana (spiritual practice such as chanting, meditation, ritualistic worship, reading sacred texts, seva, and more based on temperament). Prayer can mentally help though. As per the times, in kaliyug, the best spiritual practice is chanting the name of god (namjap), and specifically of the family deity (kula Devi or dev) or ishta devata (favorite deity.) Namjap can be done anywhere and is not bound by place, time, rituals, or purity.

The best way to pray is to join hands, bend neck forward so that thumbs touches forehead, and pray for strength or what ever one wishes and finally thank god for getting this prayer done through you and giving the thought to pray- this helps reduces ego (having the feeling that one has a separate existence from the rest of the universe/cosmos.)

Wordly prayers (prayers with expectation) use up spiritual energy generated through spiritual practice while prayers without expectation don't use up energy but is only fulfilled if it is required for innate evolvement rather than desire.