Prayer works. Vallalar taught something about how it works that most guides leave out: a prayer grows stronger as it grows wider. A prayer for ourselves alone stays small. A prayer for the welfare of every living being opens us to the same vast compassion that God is.
Why wider prayer is stronger
Vallalar (Ramalinga Adigal, 1823β1874) knew God as Arut Perum Jyoti, the Vast Grace Light, and as Thani Perum Karunai, the Unique Great Compassion. Compassion without limit is Godβs nature. So when we pray for all beings, we are asking in the same direction God already moves. And those who pray for all are held within that care themselves.
This does not mean you may not pray for your own needs, or for someone you love who is ill. It means letting the prayer grow outward from there.
The Mahamantra
Vallalarβs central prayer is short enough to carry anywhere:
Arut Perum Jyoti, Arut Perum Jyoti, Thani Perum Karunai, Arut Perum Jyoti.
(The Vast Grace Light, the Vast Grace Light, the Unique Great Compassion, the Vast Grace Light.)
It asks for nothing. It calls on God by name and turns the heart toward that name. That is why he treated it as the highest form of prayer.
How to pray, step by step
- Choose a time. Early morning is best for many; any fixed time will do.
- Sit quietly and let your breathing slow.
- Begin with the Mahamantra, said slowly a few times.
- Pray for one person who is suffering, by name if you know it.
- Widen the circle: your family, your town, strangers in pain, animals, every living being.
- Then act on it. Before you eat, feed someone who is hungry. Vallalarβs path joins prayer to compassion in deed, and the two strengthen each other.
When prayer feels empty
Some days the words feel like they go nowhere. Keep going. Vallalarβs own petitions to God, the Vinnappangal, are full of pleading, waiting and feeling unheard, and he did not stop. If that dryness lasts for months, our page on the dark night of the soul may help.
Questions people ask
Does prayer really work?
Vallalarβs answer is yes, and that its power grows with its reach. A prayer for all beings is heard more fully than a prayer for one.
What is the most powerful prayer?
In Vallalarβs teaching, the Mahamantra: Arut Perum Jyoti, Arut Perum Jyoti, Thani Perum Karunai, Arut Perum Jyoti.
Can I pray if I donβt belong to a religion?
Yes. Vallalarβs path is open to every human being. The Mahamantra names the Grace Light, not a church or a caste.
How long should I pray?
Five quiet minutes every day do more than an hour once a month.
Is it selfish to pray for myself?
No. Begin where you are. Then let the prayer reach outward to others.
For Vallalarβs own petitions to God, in a free English translation, the Sanmarkkam Journey will send them to you gradually.
The Sanmarkkam Journey delivers free teachings, health guidance, and translations of
Vallalarβs works, directly to your inbox. We take you by hand, at your own pace.
No pressure, no selling. Just value. Unsubscribe with one click. Join the Sanmarkkam Journey
Want Vallalar's wisdom
delivered free to your inbox?
All directly to your favourite email inbox.
We take you by hand, at your own pace. Step-by-Step.
- Free E-book: Jeevakarunyam Ozhukkam β Vallalar's Guide to Compassionate Living IMMEDIATE DOWNLOAD
- Free E-books, translations & commentaries
- Free health tips from Vallalar's manuscripts
- Free community
- Free Emporium items
- & Much More π
π―οΈ Welcome to the Journey
Look for an email from international@sanmarkkamlife.org. Check your inbox, spam folder and Promotions tab. Your first teaching and your free e-book are on their way.
π We hate Spam. No Pressure. 0 Selling or Pitching.
1 Click Unsubscribe any time.
Privacy Policy Β· Sanmarkkam Life APS Β· GDPR compliant