Do you know why do we do Pradakshina or Parikrama in temples
Why do we do Pradakshina or Parikrama in temples?
Pradakshina is done to acknowledge presence of God as the “Central Point” in our lives. Just as Sun remains in the center and other planets keep rotating around him, God remains constantly present as the main core of our existence while we go around Him doing our worldly chores.
The Mythological reason
Here goes the mythological story behind doing Pradakshina. Once Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati were discussing which one of their two sons; Ganesha and Karthikeya, was better. To test them, they asked them to take a round of the whole universe and whosoever returned first would be declared the winner. While, Karthikeya immediately sat on his Peacock and flew out to take a round of the Universe, Ganesha politely asked his mother to sit close to his father Lord Shiva. Once Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati were seated together, Ganesha took a round of them and said that for me the whole universe is contained within my parents so I took a Pradakshina of you. Ganesha won, of-course.
For the who doesn’t know what does Pradakshina or Parikrama mean?
Pradakshina means circumambulation. In literal terms it means to the right. Therefore Pradakshina is always done clockwise and one goes around the Sanctum Sanctorum to the left hand direction keeping Deity on one’s right side.
Did you know there are certain items that you do not offer on Shivlinga?
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