Everything that occurs in the Hindu rites and rituals has a meaning behind it. Similarly, there’s also a reason why Hindus do a Pradakshina around a god or a goddess in a temple. Do you know what is Pradakshina Meaning and Significance? Very few really do it meaningfully with understanding the process. In the following article, you would understand the reason from various angles.
The Philosophical Point Of View
You must all know that the Supreme Lord is the ultimate source, the center and the essence of our lives. So people circumambulate recognizing him as the focal point of our lives. Therefore, we go about doing our daily chores with this perspective in mind. This is the philosophical explanation of circumambulating or performing Pradakshina or parikrama around a deity.
The Underlying Reason Behind Pradakshina
Well, the true reason is that when we circumambulate a deity, we receive divine force. Yes, you heard that right! It is because the idol constantly emanates energy in all possible directions. Hence, no wonder, when we go around the image, we receive that exaltation power from all directions. This thereby rejuvenates us to face the challenges of life. This is, however, true of only such images that are properly, regularly, and sincerely that one worships via noble priests with pure minds and thoughts. Hence, make sure that priests worship it and that you’re aware of this fact.
The Right Way of Doing Pradakshina
Not many people are aware that there is a correct way to do Pradakshina. Yes, that’s true! Many would also wonder, it is just taking a circle, what is correct and wrong in this, isn’t it? Well, one must do Pradakshina clockwise, always keeping the deity on our right side. In Indian philosophy, the right side symbolizes auspiciousness. Therefore, as we circumambulate, we keep the sanctum sanctorum on our right side and receive energy.
This is not the only reason for doing so. There is another reason for going clockwise. As per the law of nature, the present moves to the future from left to right, i.e, the movement of time in a clock is from left to right. And similarly, even the earth moves from left to right. Thus, the devotees circumambulate from left to right of the main idol. The motive behind this is to receive divine blessings and strengthen themselves spiritually.
Important Tales From The Indian Scriptures
Besides deities, there are our ancient and priceless Indian scriptures that also have immense knowledge. In many books, they also advise that we must consider our parents and teachers as the Lord or as a god or goddess. So with this in mind, we should also do Pradakshina around them. We must do it around our parents, teachers and extraordinary people to receive their blessings. It is a form of giving respect to their existence in our lives.
A Practice To Imbibe And Keep Continuing
There is another traditional practice that takes place during this time. So after the completion of special pujas, we customarily do Pradakshina around ourselves too. Yes, that’s perfectly fine. We do that via rotating on the spot. In this way, we recognize and remember the divine is within us, i.e, Aham Brahmasmi and I am the Supreme Being. We should always keep such practices at the back of our mind and convert them into action. And when we know the reason behind it, it becomes even more meaningful!
