HINDU ENCYCLOPEDIA

सनातन धर्म भूमिका

Meaning of "Pradakshina>"

Word

Pradakshina

Sanskrit

प्रदक्षिण

IAST

pradakṣiṇa

In General

Going round temple or deities as a worship is called pradkshina. The direction of circumambulation is always from left to right such that Murti is always kept at the right of the devotee. The temples are usually constructed in such a way that a devotee can have three layer of pradakshina of the deity.

pradakshina has got two words Pra and Dakshina; Pra means around and dakshina meaning south. Most of the temples are either facing north or east, so, the devotees move towards south during pradkshina.

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Word Sanskrit IAST In General Veda Purana