The practice of circumbulation by Hindus is called Pradakshina. Why do we do Pradakshina? We cannot draw a circle without a centre point. The Lord is the centre, source and essence of our lives. Recognising Him as the focal point in our lives, we go about our daily chores. This is the significance of the Pradakshina. Also, every point on the circumference of a circle is equi-distant from the centre. This mean that whenever or whoever we may be, we are equally close to the Lord. His grace flows towards us without partiality.
Why is Pradikshina done only in a closewise manner? The reason is not, as someone said, to avoid a traffic jam!! As we do Pradikshina, the Lord is always on our right. In India, the right side symbolises auspiciousness, it is a telling fact that even in the English language, it is called the ‘right’ side and not the wrong one!
So as we circumbulate the sanctum sanctorum we rmind ourselves to lead an auspicious life of righteousness with the Lord who is the indispensable source of help and strength as our ‘guide’ – the right hand – the dharma aspect – of our lives. We thereby overcome our wrong tendencies and avoid repeating the sins of the past.
Indian scriptures say ‘matrudeva bhava, pitrudeva bhava, acharyadevo bhava’. May you consider your parents and teacher as you would the Lord. With this in mind we also do Pradikshina around our parents and divine personages. The story of Lord Ganesha circumambulating his parents is a well-known one. After completion of traditional worship (pooja), we customarily do Pradikshina around ourselves. In this way we recognise and remember the supreme divinity within us, which alone is idolised in the form of the Lord that we worship outside.