Devotees visiting Shiva temple do not go for full round in the temple. How many of people do know about the exact legend about it?

Pradakshina or circumambulation is an age old devotional practice that devotees go round the temple in clock-wise direction. In Siva temples we should not cross soma-soothra. Somasoothra is the drain (the anointing (Abhishekam) on the Shiva Linga with water, milk, bhasma, curd, coconut water, ghee) on the northem side leading from the pranaala of the Sreekovil towards naalambalam is
considered as sacred and have deva-chaithanya. There fore people should not do full prathakshina around the siva temple.

There is a popular legend behind 'prathakshina'. The story of Lord Ganesh and lord Shanmugha, the two sons of Lord Siva. It is said that Lord Shiva asked his two sons to circumambulate the universe. Ganesha walked a full circle around his father and mother and said that the world was contained with in Lord shiva and Parvathi,  his father and mother while Shanmugha went around the whole world on his peacock. This legend reveals that circumambulating ones parents is accorded a higher status than circumbulating the whole world.Prathakshina also means moving around a sacred object,a sacred lake,river ,mountain for a good cause.It is mainly meant for peace of mind.

Different types of prathakshina such as adi pradakshina,anga prathakshina,walking on knees all are done in shiva temple not in full Circumambulation. So the devotees have to return in anti-clockwise direction till they reach the other side of the drainage outlet to
complete the circle of these prathakshina.

Ramana Maharshi's words explains the benefits of Pradakshina as

PRA stands for removal of all kinds of sins

DA stands for fulfilling all desires

KSHI stands for freedom from future births

NA stands for giving deliverance through Jnana.

During Pradosha time (the time to pray Lord Shiva to invoke his bessings), a special type of circumbulating called "Somasooktha Pradakshinam". This pradakshinam starts at the Kodimaram behind Nandi. The procession goes around the temple anti-clockwose until it reaches the Somasoothra. There the procession turns back and comes back to the Kodimaram and continues its clockwise rotation until it reaches the Chandikeswara This is called the Somasooktha pradakshinam because while doing it, the lord and the devotees describe the shape of a crescent moon.It is done after the completion of traditional worship and after paying homage to the deity.

Article Posted By : jinivp  On March 16, 2013lView All Articles

Article Source :

http://www.veethi.com/articles/procedure-of-pradakshina-in-siva-temple-article-1759.htm

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Pradakshina in Shiva Temple