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Home > Temples of Kerala > Procedure of pradakshina Procedure of pradakshinaAs the very word indicates, pradakshina is the devotional round in clock-wise direction, where as apradakshina indicates a round in anti-clockwise direction. In all temples except Siva temples and some specified temples, pradakshina is done for full round. However, in Siva temples the procedure is different as the dictum in such cases is that 'soma-soothra na langhayel' (should not cross soma-soothra). Somasoothra is the drain on the northem side leading from the pranaala (water-chute) of the Sreekovil towards naalambalam. The popular belief is that the abhisheka water passing through the, soma-soothra is mixed with the nectar emanating from the sahasraara of Lord Siva and hence considered sacred and that it possesses deva-chaithanya. Therefore crossing of soma-soothra is treated as disrespect to the deity and hence to be avoided. In certain temples by performing special rites at the time of prathishta a Bhootha is installed below the pranaala and full pradakshina allowed. (eg. In Sree Mahadevar temple Sasthamangalam, Trivandrum). The Siva temples may have either parivaara-prathishta (bali-peethas) or not, If there is no parivaara-prathishta (oblation stones within anthar mandala) the procedure is to conduct pradakshina upto soma-soothra and worship the tip of the thaazhikakkutam (sthoopa believed to be the sahasraara of the deity) and to proceed to the other end of soma-soothra by apradakshina and worship the thaazhikakkuta. This is taken as one pradakshina. Similarly a minimum of three pradakshinas are to be done for Lord Siva for achieving the desired end. On the other hand if there is parivaara-prathishta the procedure is slightly different. The devotee has to reach the soma-soothra by pradakshina. But the path of apradakshiry.a is different. all Devathas in the anthar mandala face towards inner side and hence if pradakshina is conducted outside the balipee!has it tantamounts to disrespect to these Devathas. Hence while conducting apradakshinathe devotee has to take the path within these balipeethas the path being entering the. inner path through the west of Kubera and slowly pass through this path worshipping each Devatha till reaching soma-soothra. (vide Diagram 35).
In this context it is worth mentioning how to enter a temple. Generally the principal deities face east, west or north except in the case of Dakshinamoortthi who faces south. If one enters the naalambalam facing the deity and rehuris through the same entrance has to retrace his steps slowly all the time facing the deity and without tuming back. In case he takes other entrances he can retum without following these restrictions. Normally it is ideal to enter the temple through the main entrance of the gopura as it is considered the feet of the deity under the gross body concept of the deity This is why a person entering the main gopura touches its sill or step as this part is considered as the feet of the deity. Before leaving the temple one has to sit and meditate for a while. There is yet another belief that when one enters the Siva temple a Gana of the deity escorts him invisibly till he completes the pradikshinas and sits for meditation. In all temples the mode of pradakshina is not the same. In certain temples particularly in Siva temples varying modes are adopted. For example in the Sree Vatakkunnatha temple at Thrissur and in the Sree Erattayappan temple, Peruvanam special ways of worship are prescribed. Peculiarities of pradakshina in such temples are not discussed in detail here. Further in whatever concept or way the pradakshina is done the requirement is total dedication of every part of the body to the deity as laid down in Sreemad Bhagavatha Maha puraana (10.10.38). Vaani gunanukathane sravanou kathhayam Hasthou ch karmasu manasthava padayomnah Smrthyaam sirasthava nivaasajagath pranaame Drshtih satham darsaneasthu bhavatthanoonam The sloka means thus: "Let our speech be employed in recounting your excellences, our ears in hearing your stories, our hands in doing your work, our mind in the thought of your feet, our head in bowing to the world, your (own) abode and our sight in beholding saints, Your (very) embodiments".
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