Praying for benefits to deities who did not have them or renounced them

Most common human prayers are for health, wealth, status & progeny. But the paradox is the deities prayed to, were themselves lacking those or renounced them.

In Hindu epics, the travails of  Lord Rama are well-known. Even the divinity of Lord Krishna was recognised by only a few. Lord Venkateswara of Tirumala, recipient of countless prayers, is himself believed to be deeply in debt & separated from his consort, who resides in Tiruchanur!

Coming to the human saints, one observes that the ones who occupy the pole position in attracting petitioners, like Sri Shirdi Sai Baba & Sri Raghavendra Swamy of Mantralya, were themselves renunciates, living in utter poverty.

Jesus Christ himself was neither well known nor worshipped during his lifetime or even shortly afterwards. His mother Mary, to whom millions pray now to save them, could not save her own son, in spite of knowing his fate.

The only people who really prayed for the correct reason, were saints like Sri Ramakrishna & Ramana Maharshi, not forgetting Julian of Norwich, who loved Christ so much, that she wanted to experience all He experienced, including the pain of crucifixion. Rabia of Basra was another, who asked to be excluded from paradise & thrown into hell, but wanted to only love Allah.

To conclude, there is a lot to be said for the belief that God has provided for all our needs (if not for our endless wants!) & one only needs to pray to Him out of love. Probably St. Teresa of Avila was right when she said "There are more tears shed over answered prayers than over unanswered prayers."