Can We Pray For Others to Advance Spiritually?

Question: Can We Pray For Others to Advance Spiritually?

Does it make sense to pray for others (asking spiritual advancement for them)? If yes, why and how it works (in case of austerities it is useless to do them for other person)? There are a lot of such prayers in our and other traditions, so maybe it is a duty of Vaishnava?

Answer: Here is the Ideal Prayer

Yes, we can pray for the deliverance of others. Here is the ideal prayer from the Srimad Bhagavatam: svasty astu viśvasya khalaḥ prasīdatāṁ dhyāyantu bhūtāni śivaṁ mitho dhiyā manaś ca bhadraṁ bhajatād adhokṣaje āveśyatāṁ no matir apy ahaitukī "May there be good fortune throughout the universe, and may all envious persons be pacified. May all living entities become calm by practicing bhakti-yoga, for by accepting devotional service they will think of each other's welfare. Therefore let us all engage in the service of the supreme transcendence, Lord Sri Krishna, and always remain absorbed in thought of Him." --SB 5.18.9 This is so powerful because when you pray this you are praying for the deliverance of all persons within the universe.