Author: Sweety Vyas
Circumambulating means walking around the deity as a religious practice. The devotee circles the deity with a devotional frame of mind. The Supreme God is the focus of our life. In a circle, every point is equidistant from the center. No matter where or who we are, we are close to God in the same way. Philosophically, this is one of the reasons we circumambulate around a deity. The deity radiates energy in all directions. By circumambulating the deity, we also receive the power and rejuvenate ourselves. Our body absorbs the positive energy from the deity. This helps us to be better equipped to face our challenges. It also helps improves our mood and keeps us peaceful.
The idea of circumambulation follows the natural order of our universe. All planets in our universe revolve around the sun. They rotate on their own axis. Sun is important as it controls the movement of all planets and ensures that they are held in space. Similarly, the deity is at the center and therefore the controller of our life. When we move slowly around the deity, we pray to keep ourselves spiritually grounded. This is a scientific way of connecting to the deity.
The correct way to do circumambulation is clockwise. The deity has to be on our right side. The right side represents auspiciousness. The movement of our universe is also clockwise.
Circumambulation is also referred to as “pradakshina” or “parikrama.” It gives us multiple benefits. The word Pra-da-kshi-na is divided into four syllables. Each syllable gives us a certain spiritual benefit. The first syllable Pra eliminates sins, the syllable da gives us what is desired, the syllable Ksi destroys our karmas and Na gives salvation. [Skanda Purana Chapter 9 Verse 68]
After the end of a puja, the following sloka is recited while circumambulating the deity or self 3 times clockwise. The devotee prays for the destruction of sins by doing pradakshina. This sloka must be chanted with sincerity and devotion.
yāni kāni ca pāpāni janmāntarakṛtāni ca .
tāni sarvāṇi naśyanti pradakṣiṇapade pade ..
Oh Lord! Whatever sins I have committed in various births, may all those get destroyed with every step I take around you.
There is an interesting legend regarding the importance of circumambulation. Once there was an argument among Lord Kartikey and Lord Ganesha. Each claimed that they were the best. To resolve the argument, Lord Shiva declared that whoever is able to circumambulate the entire universe seven times and return first would be the winner. Lord Kartikeya was confident that he would win as he would do the circumambulation on his peacock and he knew that Lord Ganesha only had a rat as his vehicle. However, Lord Ganesha was intelligent and came up with a plan. He circumambulated his parents Lord Siva and Goddess Parvati seven times. He explained that the whole universe existed in his parents. Therefore, circumambulating them fulfilled the condition. Thus, he won. This story emphasizes the importance of circumambulation. It also explains why circumambulation is so important particularly to the divine.
The idea of circumambulation means acknowledging God as the essence and center of our lives. Hence circumambulation of the deity in the temple should be done in a prayerful and meditative mood, with surrender and devotion.
REFERENCES:
Hindu Rites and Rituals by K.V. Singh
