PRAYER VS MEDITATION
Prayer is a conscious effort in which something is asked of God. It may be anything of the mundane world or the devotion and love of God. In both prayers ‘I’ and ‘My’ continue to exist and the senses, mind, and intellect are put to work. Prayer has been advocated in all the scriptures of the world. Prayer has been propounded as the best tool to seek something from God.
On the other side, in meditation, nothing is asked from God. In it one tries to establish a deeper contact with the Almighty. It is a stage where ‘I’ and ‘My’ do not exist. All senses, mind and intellect stop.
In meditation, all demands and wishes disappear and only the desire to realize God within persuades. One is bound to succeed when one realizes the true nature of God as merciful, kind and as a loving father.
Jesus knew of it when He promised –
“ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER YE SHALL ASK IN PRAYER, BELIEVING, YE SHALL RECEIVE.”
(MATTHEW 21:22)
Sri Ramcharitmanas gives a great importance to the power of prayer. All gods with their sincere prayers and faith receive the promise of God –
TUMHAHIN LAG DHARIHAHUN NAR VESHA
“I will come for you in the form of a human being”.
In Sri Ramcharitmanas most of the time prayers were fulfilled. The great king Manu with his wife Satrupa when observed severe penance, prayed for seeing the physical form of God, In response, they really saw Him. At a number of places, the power of prayer has been proved to be the most powerful tool for God realization.
Prayer and meditation are complementary to each other particularly when one needs the love of God, His devotion and desire to develop the relationship with God.
Meditation may be said to be as a prayer in silence.
EN 
HI