Why Do Hindus Do Pradakshina? Meaning, Significance And Rules!

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Pradakshina in Hinduism, which means circumambulation, is to go round a temple, a deity or a sacred thing clockwise with devotion. Let's explore the meaning, significance and the rules of doing Pradakshina in Hinduism.

The meaning of Pradakshina

The meaning of the word Pradakshina according to Skanda Puranam (Ch.9 v.68.)

• PRA means - dispelling Sin
• DA means - bestowing the desire
• KSHI means - causing the destruction of Karma
• NA means - salvation

Thus performing Pradakshina dispels sins, grants boons, destroys Karma and bestows salvation.

Why should one do Pradakshina?

According to Skanda Purana (Ch.9 v.28), "The first step (of Pradakshina) destroys mental sins, the second step (of Pradakshina) destroys verbal sins, and the third step (of Pradakshina) destroys bodily sins."

For a Hindu, it is imperative to perform Pradakshina because it is a sign of devotion, worship, and complete surrender to God. One should do it slowly with one's thoughts and actions fixed on God with hands folded with reverence.

Pradakshina is to be done in the clockwise direction because we are accustomed to thinking that the Lord is on our side. However, in order for the Lord to be on our side, we should lead a righteous life according to the laws of Dharma.

Hence doing Pradakshina reminds us to live righteously. People also do Pradakshina for prayers to be granted and also for boons received. The ancient temples are basically energy centres and circumambulating them helps absorb positive energy.

Types of Pradakshinas

Atma Pradakshina: This is one of the most important types of Pradakshina. It is turning around oneself recognising the Atma within. According to Ribhu Gita, "I remain fixed, whereas innumerable universes becoming concepts within my mind rotate within me. This meditation is the highest circuit (Pradakshina)"

Giri Pradakshina: Going around a holy hill
Pada Pradakshina: Taking little steps while doing Pradakshina with the heel of one foot touching the toes of another while walking ahead.
Anga Pradakshina: Rolling around the temple in wet clothes, uttering the name of the deity.

People also circumambulate or go round sacred things like the Peepal tree, Tulsi plant, Agni or fire and cow etc. The longest and outermost circuit for doing Pradakshina is to go around a holy place (Village, town or city)

Rules for doing Pradakshina

Pradakshina should be done with faith and devotion and not mechanically. The number of Pradakshina to be performed for different deities is prescribed in the following shloka,

Eka Chandaya Raveh Sapta Tirstra Karya Vinayake||
Hareschatarstrah Kartabyah Shivasya ardha Pradkshina||

Meaning: A devotee should perform one circumambulation or Pradakshina for a goddess, seven for the Sun, three for Lord Ganesha, four for Lord Vishnu and his incarnations, and a half for Lord Shiva.

People are advised to do only half a Pradakshina or circumambulation for Lord Shiva because one ought not cross the water which flows out after the performance of Abishekam for the Shivalinga, which is considered sacred. Hence a devotee does a clockwise Pradakshina until the water channel and then turns around and does a counter clockwise Pradakshina thereby not crossing the water channel where the sacred water flows in a Shiva temple.

Significance of doing Pradakshina

According to Adi Shankara, real Pradakshina is the meditation on millions of universes circling around the Great Lord, the immovable centre of all forms. Hence the Lord is our centre, source and essence and keeping Him as the focal point in the mind we ought to engage in our day to day activities.

Furthermore as science has it, since every point on the perimeter of a circle is equidistant from the centre, all beings are equally near to the Lord, who is the centre and who bestows His Grace equally on all without the least discrimination. Hence let's perform Pradakshina with the right understanding and be blessed by the Lord.