Temple Pradakshinam

[B V RAAGHAVAN]

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Namaskarams,

Zee Tamizh channel is broadcasting a programme in the morning 7-730 AM titled "Olimayamana Ethirkalam". A famous astroleger Shri Harikesanallur Venkatraman is presenting the programme. First he presents the rasi palan for the day for all the 12 rasis and then under the title "Parihara Sthalangal" he gives some information. Today his account was on temple pradakshinam. He happened to meet a person who was doing appradakshinam at Navagraha sannidhi. He categorically says that appradakshinam should not be done to any diety.

My question is: During pradosham, Pradakshinam to Lord Siva should be done in half circle manner. Clock-wise upto gomukham and without crossing over the gomukham, anti-clockwise upto the other side. Which is the correct position? Can leaned members throw some light in this aspect?

Anbudan
Adiyen

 

[DR.C.NARAYANI]

Hello Sir,Namestae,Thanks for raising these questions .During Pradosham its a special type of circumambulating called "SOMASUTRA PRADAKSHANAM",being performed ONLY during Pradosham , One has to worship from Lord Nandi go till sri Chandekeswar not to cross Gomuki ,come reverse, go till gomukai ,not to cross it. This is one full ,like these 3 times has to be performed. Its actually the representation of incidence that happened during Aalakaal nunju occur during Kuurma avatar, as Lord Shiva swallowed the poison called "Thiru Neelakandar", as Parvathy devi stopped him .So devar s and Asura s went here and there out of fear anti clock wise for protection from Lord siva ,so represent this we do these type .,and do not fear for performing this special pradakshanam as it yield very good deeds.ray2:ray2: .

 

[Raji Ram]

சோமசூக்தப் பிரதக்ஷணமென்பது யாது?


பிரதக்ஷணஞ் செய்யத் தொடங்கும்போது நந்திதேவரைத் தரிசித்துக்கொண்டு அங்கிருந்தபடியே இடமாகச் சென்று சண்டேச

நாயனாரைத் தரிசித்துச் சென்ற வழியே திரும்பிவந்து மறுபடியும் நந்திதேவரைத் தரிசித்து அங்கிருந்து வலமாகச் சென்று

சண்டேச நாயனாரைத் தரிசித்துத் திரும்பிவந்து நந்திதேவரைத் தரிசித்துப் பின்பு சிவலிங்க தரிசனஞ் செய்து பணியவேண்டும்.

இவ்வாறு ஒரு பிரதக்ஷணஞ் செய்தால் அனந்தம் பலனுண்டு. பிரிந்து வருகின்றபடியே பிரதக்ஷணஞ் செய்யவேண்டும். இந்தப்

பிரதக்ஷணம் பிரதோஷ காலத்திற் செய்தால் விசேஷமான பலனுண்டு.

Source: சைவ சமய வினா விடை

 

[B V RAAGHAVAN]

Namaskarams,

Many many thanks to Dr. Narayani and Mrs. Raji Mami for the beautiful explanations. I will continue to do this somasutra pradakshinam.

Anbudan
Adiyen

 

[P.J.]

B.V .RAAGAHVAN Sir

Great answers have already been given

I just want add my thoughts on it

Somasuthra Pradakshinam is a unique way of circumambulating the GOD.
First saluting the Rishabha Devar (Holy Bull or Nandi) go anti-clockwise and salute Chandishwarar (not crossing the Gomukhi). Now return in the clockwise manner salute Rishabham and continue clockwise till the Gomukhi (not to cross it again). Then return in anti-clockwise direction salute the Rishabham again and proceed towards chaNdIshar. From there return back clockwise without worshiping Rishabham and reach the Gomukhi. Finally return back anticlockwise from there to salute Rishabham and continue to Chandishwarar and return back to Rishabham and worship the Shiva Lingam (at the altar) by viewing through the space between the two horns of the Holy Bull. This is one Pradakshinam.

Three such times Pradakshinam to be done. If you carefully observe the curve traced by doing the pradakshinam is very similar to the periphery of the crescent. Hence this way of circumambulating is called Somasutra Pradakshinam.



During the pradhosham time Somasootra Pradakshinam is the recommended way of circumambulating the God. In many of the temples this is followed always. A point to note here is that the gomukhi is never crossed. gomukhi is the place where the water after anointing (abhiSheka theertham) would be flowing northwards out. By doing this way of Pradakshinam one does not step over this holy water.


As per the above marked symbols this Pradakshinams is to be done. First saluting the R^iShabha devar (Holy Bull) go anti-clockwise and salute chaNdIshar (not crossing the Gomukhi). Now return in the clockwise manner salute VruShabham and continue clockwise till the Gomukhi (not cross it again). Then return in anti-clockwise direction salute the RiShabham again and proceed towards Chadeeshar. From there return back clockwise without worshiping Rishabham and reach the Gomukhi. Finally return back anti-clockwise from there to salute Rishabham and continue to chandIshar and return back to Rishabham and worship the Shiva Lingam (at the altar) by viewing through the space between the two horns of the Holy Bull. This is one Pradakshinam. Three such times Pradakshinam is to be performed.


If you carefully observe the curve traced by doing the Pradakshinam is very similar to the periphery of the crescent. Hence this way of circumambulating is called Somasutra Pradakshinam.


The following is the illustration of how you should perform Somasutra Pradakshinam :

SOMASUTRA PRADAKSHINAM (This is performed only during Pradosha Kalam)

Welcome to Pradosham website - Pradoshapuranam

Pradosham Moon Shiva Pradosha Lord Called Time Pradakshinam

 

[tbs]

hi raghavan sir,

there are great knowledegable/helpful ppl here....but there are some atheistic/agnostic ppl will give some misunderstandings too...

they will say no god....so doing pradhikhanam is waste......beware of these kind of ppl....

have a nice day...

 

[Raji Ram]

For the answers that I do not know, I surf the internet to find out and post here, if I find it convincing!

That is all T B S Sir!

 

[renuka]

hi raghavan sir,

there are great knowledegable/helpful ppl here....but there are some atheistic/agnostic ppl will give some misunderstandings too...

they will say no god....so doing pradhikhanam is waste......beware of these kind of ppl....

have a nice day...

Dear TBS garu,

Not really..if you ask me I also will say I do not believe in any special unidirectional prayer rule and regulations and will feel that nothing really makes a difference finally..

if we actually analyse things well..we will realize that God does not really interfere in our lives..what ever good or bad happens to us is our own doing..our own karma.. no amount of prayer is going to erase that..we will still have to go thru the trials and tribulations.

God is the Gopala who lets go His cows to graze in the forest..it all depends where the cows go and what they eat that will determine their well being and the Gopala has confidence that all cows eventually come home to Him.

So its our own journey finally..if we have the Eka Gratha (One directed mind) in whatever we do..then we head home faster..atheist..agnostic and all.

 

[Raji Ram]

Dear Renu,

The believers of 'Almighty' need something to concentrate on and hence the different forms of Gods and Goddesses.

The rules and regulations followed in temples is only to make us control our mind and focus on the Almighty. Now a

million dollar Q: If you think 'its our own journey finally' why do you pray everyday?

I am sure prayer gives peace of mind to the believer. One can choose one's own ishta dEvtA. ray: . . . eace:

 

[Raji Ram]

​Nice link with a clear picture, P J Sir. Thanks for posting it here.

 

[renuka]

million dollar Q: If you think 'its our own journey finally' why do you pray everyday?

I am sure prayer gives peace of mind to the believer. One can choose one's own ishta dEvtA. ray: . . . eace:

Dear RR ji,

I do not do any formal prayer daily..in my house its my husband who lights the lamp in the prayer room and not me....in other words I do not pray daily..I feel each of our lives are in auto pilot mode set by our Karma and just being a good human being is more than enough.

But nevertheless I read religious text daily for gaining knowledge on how to be a better human..its more of self rectifying method for me.

Even when I visit any temple like I did in India recently..its just for some sight seeing..not in any formal prayer mode but when I am there I will respect the presiding deity by bowing down to Him with a blank mind.

Peace of mind is all up to us to handle a given situation..prayers might just distract the mind from the current problem for a short while but unless a person makes effort to get over hurdles in life..no amount of prayer is going to help him/her.

The best prayer in my opinion is accepting each situation we face in life with the feeling that we have to go thru this as ordained by our Karma and try our level best to be strong to face any tribulations and not asking God to keep a GPS on us to solve every problem of ours.

 

[Raji Ram]

Dear Renu,

Thinking is different in different persons! That makes life interesting in this world!

 

[tbs]

Dear RR ji,

I do not do any formal prayer daily..in my house its my husband who lights the lamp in the prayer room and not me....in other words I do not pray daily..I feel each of our lives are in auto pilot mode set by our Karma and just being a good human being is more than enough.

But nevertheless I read religious text daily for gaining knowledge on how to be a better human..its more of self rectifying method for me.

Even when I visit any temple like I did in India recently..its just for some sight seeing..not in any formal prayer mode but when I am there I will respect the presiding deity by bowing down to Him with a blank mind.

Peace of mind is all up to us to handle a given situation..prayers might just distract the mind from the current problem for a short while but unless a person makes effort to get over hurdles in life..no amount of prayer is going to help him/her.

The best prayer in my opinion is accepting each situation we face in life with the feeling that we have to go thru this as ordained by our Karma and try our level best to be strong to face any tribulations and not asking God to keep a GPS on us to solve every problem of ours.

hi renu,

is it maturity of middle age?.............or a simple middle age crisis.....all are not matured like u.....some are elementary in religious

....just following rituals...like me....some are more spiritualllllll.... like u .....some are more philosophical..like atheists/charvakas.....

 

[renuka]

hi renu,

is it maturity of middle age?.............or a simple middle age crisis.....all are not matured like u.....some are elementary in religious

....just following rituals...like me....some are more spiritualllllll.... like u .....some are more philosophical..like atheists/charvakas.....

TBS garu,

Nope its not middle age crisis..since college itself I never indulged in formal prayers.
Most students during Navaratri esp Saraswati Pooja will pray for exams.

I never used to pray for exams etc..cos I was confident that if we study we will do well and study itself is a form of prayer.

I am not saying I am right but everyone has their own way of connecting with God...that is why I was surprised to see you issuing a warning signal to a member in this thread about atheist and agnostics in this forum saying that they might give different views.

An atheist and agnostic might not believe in the idea of a personal God but if they are good humans and wish well for others and do not harm others they might be actually better off in the spiritual scale than anyone else who prays 24/7 spinning 360 degrees but yet remains judgmental.

 

[B V RAAGHAVAN]

Namaskarams,
Dear PJ sir,

Thank you for the beautiful sketch of somasuthra pradakshinam. It resembles a real gomukam in which we keep the panchayathana pooja idols for abhishekam.

Dear Renuji,

Every problem in the world will have many solutions. But there is one solution which is 95% if not 100% suitable to the problem. Now to find out the real solution, we need peace of mind and ekaagra chithai. Where you will get it? It can be possible only through meditation. Even in the doctor profession, you need to focus on the root cause of the disease to find out the solution. When you concentrate your mind on one thing for some time you mind will become more attentive. That particular thing, somebody call it as God, somebody say it is nothing. Either way it is good for you. Ramalinga Adigal concentrated on the flame of the deepam and attained siddhi. So dont brush aside all the age old methods of worship as useless. Those ways of worship are still hold good. We will follow these ways to get our means.

Anbudan
Adiyen

 

[P.J.]

renukaji


Bhakti or devotion is defined as pure love for God with intense inner feelings to become beloved of God. Bhakti (devotion) means mind of bhakt (devotte) is completely disengaged from all worldly enjoyments, and is only engaged in Love for God. Bhakti is expression of our loving and devotional feelings to God. Devotees practice bhakti with many different emotions. Mainly nine types of bhakti is described in Vishnu Purana i.e. Shravana, Kirtan, Smarana, Padasevana, Archana, Vandana, Dasya, Sakhya, Atma Nivedana which is known as Navadha Bhakti.

According to Vishnu Purana, there are nine types of bhakti by which devotees express their love to God. Devotee can practice any one or any combination or all types of bhakti to express his love to God..

Srimad Bhagavatam 7.5.23-24:

"sri-prahlada uvaca:
sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaraṇam pada-sevanam
arcanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atma-nivedanam
iti pumsarpita visnau bhaktis cen nava-lakṣaṇa
kriyeta bhagavaty addha tan manye 'dhitam uttamam"

Prahlada Maharaja said: Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Vishnu, remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen types of paraphernalia, offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant, considering the Lord one's best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him (in other words, serving Him with the body, mind and words) — these nine processes are accepted as pure devotional service.

Bhakti | 9 Types of Bhakti | Navadha Bhakti - ekunji, A free web research and review

Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 7 Chapter 5 Verses 23-24.

Nine Modes of Bhakti Yoga Sadhana

 

[tbs]

renukaji


Bhakti or devotion is defined as pure love for God with intense inner feelings to become beloved of God. Bhakti (devotion) means mind of bhakt (devotte) is completely disengaged from all worldly enjoyments, and is only engaged in Love for God. Bhakti is expression of our loving and devotional feelings to God. Devotees practice bhakti with many different emotions. Mainly nine types of bhakti is described in Vishnu Purana i.e. Shravana, Kirtan, Smarana, Padasevana, Archana, Vandana, Dasya, Sakhya, Atma Nivedana which is known as Navadha Bhakti.

According to Vishnu Purana, there are nine types of bhakti by which devotees express their love to God. Devotee can practice any one or any combination or all types of bhakti to express his love to God..

Srimad Bhagavatam 7.5.23-24:

"sri-prahlada uvaca:
sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaraṇam pada-sevanam
arcanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atma-nivedanam
iti pumsarpita visnau bhaktis cen nava-lakṣaṇa
kriyeta bhagavaty addha tan manye 'dhitam uttamam"

Prahlada Maharaja said: Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Vishnu, remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen types of paraphernalia, offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant, considering the Lord one's best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him (in other words, serving Him with the body, mind and words) — these nine processes are accepted as pure devotional service.

Bhakti | 9 Types of Bhakti | Navadha Bhakti - ekunji, A free web research and review

Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 7 Chapter 5 Verses 23-24.

Nine Modes of Bhakti Yoga Sadhana

hi
its called NAVDA BHAKTI......

 

[renuka]

Namaskarams,
Dear PJ sir,

Thank you for the beautiful sketch of somasuthra pradakshinam. It resembles a real gomukam in which we keep the panchayathana pooja idols for abhishekam.

Dear Renuji,

Every problem in the world will have many solutions. But there is one solution which is 95% if not 100% suitable to the problem. Now to find out the real solution, we need peace of mind and ekaagra chithai. Where you will get it? It can be possible only through meditation. Even in the doctor profession, you need to focus on the root cause of the disease to find out the solution. When you concentrate your mind on one thing for some time you mind will become more attentive. That particular thing, somebody call it as God, somebody say it is nothing. Either way it is good for you. Ramalinga Adigal concentrated on the flame of the deepam and attained siddhi. So dont brush aside all the age old methods of worship as useless. Those ways of worship are still hold good. We will follow these ways to get our means.

Anbudan
Adiyen

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your reply which is beautiful and meaningful too.

I do agree with you..in fact I never feel that age old methods of worship is useless( the word useless is not in my vocabulary when it comes to religion etc)....it is just that I feel at the end of the day..if we keep praying 24/7 but still remain the same without shedding all our negativity..only then our effort of prayers/worship serves no purpose.

Actually the reason most people pray is for self gain not really for God's sake..so where is the question of Bhakti??

If prayer is going to be a transaction for personal gain than I guess its is better to be an Atheist who never expects anything from any Higher Power and depends fully on his own effort and inner Self.

After all Lord Krishna did say in Geeta that "Only Self can elevate Self"

 

[renuka]

renukaji


Bhakti or devotion is defined as pure love for God with intense inner feelings to become beloved of God. Bhakti (devotion) means mind of bhakt (devotte) is completely disengaged from all worldly enjoyments, and is only engaged in Love for God. Bhakti is expression of our loving and devotional feelings to God. Devotees practice bhakti with many different emotions. Mainly nine types of bhakti is described in Vishnu Purana i.e. Shravana, Kirtan, Smarana, Padasevana, Archana, Vandana, Dasya, Sakhya, Atma Nivedana which is known as Navadha Bhakti.

According to Vishnu Purana, there are nine types of bhakti by which devotees express their love to God. Devotee can practice any one or any combination or all types of bhakti to express his love to God..

Srimad Bhagavatam 7.5.23-24:

"sri-prahlada uvaca:
sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaraṇam pada-sevanam
arcanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atma-nivedanam
iti pumsarpita visnau bhaktis cen nava-lakṣaṇa
kriyeta bhagavaty addha tan manye 'dhitam uttamam"

Prahlada Maharaja said: Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Vishnu, remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen types of paraphernalia, offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant, considering the Lord one's best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him (in other words, serving Him with the body, mind and words) — these nine processes are accepted as pure devotional service.

Bhakti | 9 Types of Bhakti | Navadha Bhakti - ekunji, A free web research and review

Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 7 Chapter 5 Verses 23-24.

Nine Modes of Bhakti Yoga Sadhana

Dear PJ sir,

What you say is true..but does anyone really exhibit these 9 modes of Bhakti?

Everyone is praying for prosperity etc transaction style...everyone wants something from God.

Who thinks of God for God's sake?

Everyone is hoping for the words of the Phala Shruti to materialize.

If tomorrow God declares that He has closed the doors of heaven and no more handouts to be given..more than 90% of people would stop praying and will start to make a transaction with the Devil(if he exists)!LOL

So where is the question of Bhakti?

I think we all need to ask ourselves the question.. "Do I really have Bhakti only for God's sake?"

Let see who can actually answer Yes!

 

[Raji Ram]

Dear Renu,

No relationship exists without some gain, imho. The expectation need not be financial benefit but at least return of affection / love!

Bhakthi is a relationship of human to God /Goddess. We pray to have peace of mind and expect that even if we have a period filled

with trouble, the Almighty will remove it soon and give us peace! But, I do not think high of the bhakthi which asks for monetary

benefits or pardon for the wrong deeds - do something wrong and say 'KrishnArpaNam'!!

 

[Raji Ram]

I think the methods of prayer on special days might improve the power of concentration! :laser:

 

[renuka]

I think the methods of prayer on special days might improve the power of concentration! :laser:

Dear RR ji,

Improve concentration for what?? To improve shooting skills?? LOL

Your smiley is shooting! ha ha ha:laser:

Aiyoo RR ji..you are encouraging people to take up firearms!

 

[Raji Ram]

I was awestuck watching this video - The incredible power of concentration!

Here is the link. Enjoy and do not miss the climax at the end!

The Incredible Power Of Concentration - Miyoko Shida

 

[Raji Ram]

:nono: Renu! It is laser :laser: - meaning laser sharp concentration! :becky:

 

[P.J.]

renukaji

My reply was that everyone's Bhakthi is different like yours. and no need to exhibit all the 9 modes. if one follows one of them it is enough.