Does God hear the prayers of his devotees?

Rank and file devotees -and their masters- think that God listens or talks to them somehow or other. That's not what I have experienced. Krishna doesn't reciprocate personally with his worshipers. There is a selection, and only the most advanced amongst them get the chance to talk and exchange with God, or to see Him face to face. ("Most advanced" means: rare occurrences. The ritvik system is a way to compensate for this misfortune.)

Are the Vaishnavas not constantly threatened by opposing forces coming from neoliberal societies, but also conservative ones, and of which Krishna or Vishnu is the least of their worries, if not a thorn in their side, so to speak?

(Bhaktisiddhanta and Prabhupada both expressed deep dissatisfaction with the state of their respective organizations. It must be acknowledged that, despite their careful training in the spiritual science of bhakti-yoga, pure devotees did not emerge among their disciples. Both made their sentiments on this matter known on different occasions. While this reality is recognized by all, it remains difficult for many to fully accept.)

Since there is no platform or forum to discuss with the devotees this matter or any other, I try to answer my own question: "Does God hear the prayers of his devotees?" 

My present reflection is inspired by the Srimad-Bhagavatam, the chapter entitled "The birth of Lord Krishna". There, it is written: «After all the demigods offered the Puruṣa-sūkta prayer to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they apparently heard no response. Then Lord Brahmā personally sat in meditation, and there was a message-transmission from Lord Viṣṇu to Brahmā.»*

About 5000 years ago, Vyasa explained during his tragic narration of Vasudeva and Devaki marriage, that the Devas, who deal with the organization of the universe in accordance with the laws of Vishnu, his agents and devotees, had tried to point out to Vishnou the great difficulties created by the demonic kings; they have transformed the Earth into a dreadful place, quite in opposition to her divine laws and objectives.

Strangely, Vishnu did not hear their prayers, he remained silent. Therefore, they went to find their superior, Lord Brahma, who managed to attract His attention.

Reading this story, we understand the unrealistic belief that Radha and Krishna are directly concerned by our devotion. Our prayers should go through the medium of a pure devotee. Theoretically, the guru olds this position, like Lord Brahma is for the devas.

In the book that I am reading at the moment and from which this other reflection is inspired, "History of the cult of Narasimha in Andhra Pradesh", printed in India, the following passage is appropriate: "This is a palm leaf, belonging to a manuscript of the same order, on which was written a prayer to the God Narasimha. He is worshiped in the city of Simhadri to protect the province of Andhra Pradesh from Muslim invasions."

These temples and the divine representation of the famous God half-man, half-lion, of which that of Simhadri is an example, were built in large numbers from the 10th century throughout South India, and more generally in Andhra Pradesh to comfort the inhabitants, and protect them against the Muslim invader in search of barbaric destruction, specifically relentless against their religion.

In doing so, for centuries these kings, through their devotion to Narasimha, preserved their civilization and their kingdom in the South against these attacks. For centuries, the inhabitants offered prayers in these privileged temples, believing it possible to resurrect the extraordinary event that happened during the krita-yuga, hundred thousand years before our era and recorded in the Puranic literature.

The story in two words: Pralad, a young child whose father Hiranyakasipu is practically the Lord of the universe, sees himself being bullied by him because he has made Vishnu his constant meditation. Thus, Prahlad is going against the culture of his 'asuric' dynasty with assumed demonic values. To protect his devoted servant, God, in the form of a half-man, half-lion being, hence the name Narasimha, appears and punishes his father to death. This divine manifestation is one of the most popular in India.

India was finally conquered by the invaders. 

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* (What's a message-transmission?! Anyway, no "serious" devotee will make himself available to answer and discuss this other question. They are so shy…) 

Something between the New Age esotericism and the Watchtower of Jehovah's witnesses. 

Although it is obvious to cultivate and reasonable people that God does not, in modern times at least, address humans personally, much less Krishna or Radharani, the rank and file members of the Hare Krishna movement think the opposite. The last example among numerous ones dates from yesterday. On a discussion forum, a person spoke of the possibility for any sincere devotee "to dialogue" with Krishna. She made that extraordinary claim without anyone interfering or asking her about the details of the experience, which is incredibly surprising, to say the least. That demonstrates how, despite all the cheating and the abuses going on in the movement, the intellectual level and spiritual maturity of Krishna's devotees are not improving over time, unfortunately.