Why Do You Feel Emotional or Restless After Starting Puja or Prayer? (Real Spiritual Reason)
Many people experience this but hesitate to talk about it.
You start praying regularly, lighting a diya, chanting mantras, or doing puja - and suddenly you feel emotional, restless, heavy, or even confused. Some people feel like crying, some feel irritated, and some feel like stopping the puja altogether. If this has happened to you, you are not doing anything wrong. In fact, this is often a sign that the prayer is working - just not in the way we expect.
This Is a Very Common Experience (But No One Explains It)
Searches like:
- feeling emotional after puja
- restless after chanting mantra
- why I feel disturbed after prayer
- crying during bhajan
- uneasy after starting spiritual practice
…are increasing every year. Yet most articles either scare people or give no clear answer.
The truth is simple and comforting.
Spiritual Reason: Old Emotions Are Coming Out
When you pray, chant, or sit quietly, you are slowing down the mind. And when the mind slows, all the emotions you’ve been suppressing start coming to the surface - just like dust rising when a room is cleaned.
Puja is not adding disturbance. It is removing layers that were already there. This is why many people cry suddenly during bhajans or feel emotional while chanting.
Scientific Reason: The Nervous System Is Resetting
From a scientific point of view, prayer activates the parasympathetic nervous system - the same system that works during healing, rest, and emotional release.
When this system turns on:
- Old stress releases
- Emotions unlock
- The body relaxes
- The mind becomes sensitive
- That sensitivity feels like restlessness at first.
- But it’s actually the beginning of calm.
Why It Feels Worse Before It Feels Better
This is like starting exercise after years of inactivity - muscles pain before they strengthen.
Spiritual practice works the same way.
Ancient texts call this phase “shuddhi kriya” (inner cleansing). Modern psychology calls it emotional detox.
Different words, same truth.
Why Some People Want to Stop Puja at This Stage
This is important.
When the mind starts releasing old patterns, the ego feels uncomfortable. It tries to pull you back to old habits, distractions, and routines.
That voice saying:
“Stop this, it’s not working”
…is often the last resistance before peace begins.
What You Should Do When This Happens
✅ Keep your practice simple
Don’t increase rituals suddenly. One diya, one mantra, one prayer is enough.
✅ Do grounding
After puja, drink water, walk barefoot, or touch the earth.
✅ Don’t judge your emotions
Let them come. Let them go.
✅ Reduce expectations
Prayer is not a switch. It’s a process.
✅ Talk less, feel more
Silence helps emotions settle faster than analysis.
When You Should Pause (Important)
If you feel:
- Panic
- Extreme fear
- Physical discomfort
- Insomnia for many days
Then reduce intensity and seek guidance. Spirituality should calm, not overwhelm.
The Final Truth (Most Important)
Feeling emotional or restless after starting puja is not a bad sign. It is a sign that your inner noise is finally being heard. Peace does not come when emotions stop - It comes when you stop running from them.
Stay gentle with yourself.
