||    Is god really listening to our prayers    ||

On reading Your comments to your response to point 1, the following Upanishadic passages came to my mind:

The passage is from KenOpanishad is set up as a Q&A:

The student asks the question and the AchAryan
responds:

Question:

kEnEshitham pathathi prEkshitham mana:
kEna prANa: praTama ; praithi yuktha:
kEnEshithAm vaachamimAm vadhanthi
chakshu: srOthram ka u dEvO yunakthi

(Meaning by Dr.NSA Swamy): Prompted by whom does the mind function in its objects? Being directd by whom does the chief vital air proceed to function ? By whom is this speech directed that people utter? Who is that effulgent God that directs the eyes and the ears?

AchAryan's answer:

SrOthrasya SrOthram manasO manO
yath vAchO ha vAcham sa u prAnasya prANa:
chakshuschakshu: athimuchya dheerA:
prEthyAsmAllOkAdh amruthA bhavanthi

(Meaning given by Dr.NSA Swamy): Knowing Him who is the ear of the ear, the mind of the mind, the speech of the speech, the life of life and the eye of the eye, the wise passing out of this world (through archirAdhi mArgam) after death become immortal. Such people become MukthAs.

Through the next few manthrAs of this humbling Upanishad, teacher states that such informing and energizing principle (Brahman) is not to be known by the external or internal organs.

This Upanishad goes on to say: Brahman is infinite and hence is not knowable as "This Much" with our limited faculties. It is unknowable in its fullness and totality but is known to one, who does not think it is of limited (aparicchinnathvAth BrahmaNa:) is the comment of Bhagavath RaamAnujA.

In the concluding passage of the second khaDam of this Upanishad, the appeal is made to us for hurrying to gain Knowledge about Brahman as the possessor of unique attributes such as Sathyam, Jnanam and ananthathvam. The phalan of attaining amruthathvam (immortality) through such attempt to know about Brahman is stressed. AzhwArs have stressed this same Upanishadic message intheir Paasurams (Thirumangai in His Periya Thirumozhi paasurams on BadrikAsramam and elsewhere).

To make it easy for us to relate to Him , He is present as Archais at the dhivya desams. The analogy that comes to mind regarding the soulabhyam of ArchA Moorthys is like the Cow, whose whole body is full of milk but that milk for our easy access and enjoyment comes out of the udders. ArchA Moorthy enjoyment is the wonderful and easy way to talk with Him, ask Him questions and get answers and enjoy Him in this world as the AzhwArs showed us the way.

NamO NaarAyaNaa !

V.Sadagopan

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