Why do we do pradakshina (circumambulate)?

Question

Why is pradakshina done only in a clockwise manner?

Answer 1

We cannot draw a circle without a center point. The Lord is the center, source and essence
of our lives. Recognizing Him as the focal point in our lives, we go about doing our daily
chores. This is the significance of pradakshina.
Also every point on the circumference of a circle is equidistant from the center. This means
that wherever or whoever we may be, we are equally close to the Lord. His grace flows
towards us without partiality.


The reason is not, as a person said, to avoid a traffic jam! As we do pradakshina, the Lord is
always on our right. In India the right side symbolizes auspiciousness. So as we
circumambulate the sanctum sanctorum we remind 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".
Indian scriptures enjoin - matrudevo bhava, pitrudevo bhava, acharyadevo bhava. May
you consider your parents and teachers as you would the Lord. With this in mind we also do
pradakshina around our parents and divine personages.
After the completion of traditional worship (pooja), we customarily do pradakshina around
ourselves. In this way we recognize and remember the supreme divinity within us, which
alone is idolized in the form of the Lord that we worship outside.

Answer 2

It is a regulative principle given by the sages for our purification.

The process of circumambulating the temple is that one should begin circumambulating from the Deity’s right-hand side of the temple and come round (hence clock-wise)

It is said in the Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya, “A person who is circumambulating the Deity of Vishnu can counteract the circumambulation of repeated birth and death in this material world.” The conditioned soul is circumambulating through repeated births and deaths on account of his material existence, and this can be counteracted simply by circumambulating the Deity in the temple. (Nectar of Devotion Ch 9)

Nectar of Devotion. Chapter 9 has many such explanations that you are searching. You may like to read it.

Answer 3

It is a ritual signifying that our lives revolve around divine grace. hence we go around the image of the divine or hold the divine in our hearts and go around ourselves.

Answer 4

you can find all myths about hindu here
http://www.webonautics.com/mythology/omthesymbol.html