My belief...

Having done my entire schooling in Chinmaya Vidyalaya in bangalore where prayer was an integral part of the curriculum, I now look back and think about my belief in GOD
Where and when did it start ??
In School we begun the day with prayers. We prayed before lunch and again before leaving school to go home. I do not know how many of us took it seriously and prayed sincerely. As part of our regular tests and examinations we even had a test for this - Chanting. We were given specific portions which would include verses from the Bhagavad Gita, Bhajans, Vishnu Sahasranamam, etc. There were even inter-school competitions. Even before our Board Exams in Class 10, our hall tickets were given to us after an elaborate pooja ritual.
At home both my parents were deeply religious. During vacations we were taken to temples in Rameswaram, Kanya Kumarai, Madurai, etc. Festivals were celebrated with poojas at home and visits to temples. As kids my siblings and me were asked to help out - stringing flowers, cleaning the pooja room, anointing the threshold and the Tulsi Maadam with fresh turmeric and kumkum, cutting cleaning banana leaves for the special meal were some of our chores. My brother and I would watch the Ramayana and Mahabharatha serials on TV every week. We also read a lot of Amar Chitra katha books.
Some Saturdays my mom would light a Til lamp inside the Navagraha enclosure in the Ganesha temple near my house. Sometimes she would make Kesari Baath or Sundal to distribute as Prasaadam for Sankatahara Chaturthi at the same ganesha temple. I remember closing my eyes and folding my hands and reciting the prayers I learnt in school....but i don't know what I prayed for. There were annual trips to Tirupati. I remember the long queues and being impatient and constantly asking my parents when were getting out of the temple.
I remember my dad praying very hard when my mum was ill. I also remember very well the day I sincerely prayed to God when i couldn't bear to see my mum suffering. That same night she passed away after 4 years of battling with cancer. I wondered if God heard my prayers. Was that the day I truly began to believe in HIM ??
Today, I still remember some of my prayers from school. I pray everyday. it gives me peace and calm. I pray for good health, prosperity and harmony for my family and for everyone I know. In school we began the day by chanting the MahaMrtyunjaya Mantra.
Om Tyramabhakam Yajamahai
Sukhandim Pushti Varadanam
Uruva Rukamiva Bandhanaa
Mrutyor Muksheeya maamrutaat