"Ninth Spiritual Instruction" by Swami Chidananda
Prayer—Slokas
Get by heart some slokas, some prayers, some stotras and repeat them as soon as you sit in the asana before starting japa or meditation. This will elevate your mind.
Yesterday, a Tamilian family from Madras, who had been staying in the Ashram for three days, had only one request before leaving: “We are taking leave Swamiji. We have been very happy to have been in this place, but before going, may my wife and children recite some hymns before you, religious, devotional songs?” I said yes. It was a treat! This is the culture, this is the tradition. Even today this is the practice in pious homes. 
Hymns, songs and carols were sung last night in the Library Hall before the crib of the child Jesus. It elevated us, took us into a different atmosphere, a different time dimension and brought once again that ancient scene of more than 2,000 years ago before us. It captured the Christmas atmosphere, made us feel the magic of that moment. The powerful electric stirring of the Spirit of that moment made us join in that ancient day. 
Gurudev says in The Essence of Yoga that “Prayer elevates the mind. It fills the mind with purity. It is associated with praise of God. It keeps the mind in tune with God. Prayer can reach a realm where reason dare not enter. Prayer can move mountains. It can work miracles. It frees the devotee from the fear of death, brings him nearer to God and makes him feel the Divine Presence everywhere. It awakens in him the Divine Consciousness and makes him feel his essential immortal and blissful nature”.[TWENTY IMPORTANT SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTIONS, A Series of talks on Swami Sivananda's Twenty Important Spiritual Instructions.]
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