Why We Do Parikrama (Circumambulation) - Significance

Parikrama, also called pradakshina, is the act of walking in a circle around a deity, a temple, a sacred tree or even a holy mountain or river. The word pradakshina itself means 'to the right', because the devotee always keeps the sacred centre on their right side while walking. It is a quiet, moving prayer - a way of saying that the divine is the centre of our life and that all our paths revolve around it.

Parikrama symbolises that God is the centre and source of all existence, just as planets revolve around the sun. By circling the deity, the devotee acknowledges that the divine is fixed and unchanging while we move through life around it. The circle also represents the cycle of life and the soul's journey, with the still centre pointing to the eternal truth that never moves. Each round is an offering of one's actions and thoughts at the feet of the divine.

Parikrama is always done in a clockwise direction, keeping the deity to your right. This follows the natural movement of the sun across the sky and the path of the planets, aligning the devotee with the cosmic order. Keeping the divine on the right is a mark of respect and auspiciousness in Hindu tradition, where the right side is honoured. Walking clockwise is believed to draw in positive, harmonious energy, while moving anticlockwise is considered to disturb this flow.

For most deities, devotees complete full clockwise rounds. The Shivling has a special rule: one does not cross over the jaladhari (the channel that carries away the water and milk poured during abhishek). The devotee walks clockwise from the front up to one side of the jaladhari, then returns the same way back to the other side without stepping over the channel, making it a half or partial parikrama repeated back and forth. The jaladhari carries powerful, sacred energy and stepping across it is traditionally avoided out of respect.

Do parikrama slowly, mindfully and with devotion: 1. Begin from the front of the deity, fold your hands and bow first. 2. Walk clockwise, keeping the deity on your right. 3. Move slowly and silently, chanting the deity's name or a mantra with each step. 4. Complete the traditional number of rounds - usually odd numbers like 1, 3, 5, 7 or 11, depending on the deity. 5. For a Shivling, do the half parikrama without crossing the jaladhari. 6. End at the front, bow again and offer your prayer. Keeping the mind on the divine matters far more than the speed or count.

Never walk anticlockwise around a deity, as this reverses the auspicious flow. Avoid rushing through rounds mechanically without focus, since parikrama is a meditation, not a chore. Do not step over the Shivling's jaladhari, and do not begin or end parikrama carelessly without bowing. Avoid talking, using the phone or letting the mind wander during the rounds, and never start parikrama from the back of the deity instead of the front.

Parikrama is believed to complete the energy circuit around the deity, allowing the devotee to absorb the positive vibrations radiating from the sanctum. Spiritually, it cultivates humility, surrender and steady focus on the divine. Physically, the slow, mindful walking is a gentle exercise that calms the nerves and settles a restless mind. Done with devotion, parikrama turns simple walking into a powerful prayer that aligns body, mind and soul with the sacred centre.