FAQ On Lord Ganesh Part 3
June 21, 2007
What does Pradaskshina or Parikrama signify?
Circumambulating around the temple or a holy site, a sacred mountain, a lake, or a river by going left, where the worshipper constantly turns his right side towards the deity, showing it proper respect. It is done in a clock-wise direction. This is called Pradakshina or Parikrama. Most temples have a separate pathway or passage designed for this. In the Encyclopedia of Religion, Diana Eck lists several meanings of circumambulation. Included among them are: honoring, centering, bonding, setting apart, and reaffirmation of the sacred territorial claim.
Additionally, circumambulation may symbolize the fluidity of meaning characteristic of Hindu thought, such as: completeness yet continuity, fulfillment and quest, contentment and pursuit, comprehension and mystery. The pole star, for example, is the epitome of firmness in the Indian cosmology, yet the Hindu cosmos pulsates; it dissolves and re-emerges. Lord Ganesh circumambulated around His parents, which is accorded a higher status than circumambulating the entire Universe.
Click here to read the article on Lord Ganesh’s idol going to the global market. This was published in Times Of India, Mumbai.
Is Lord Ganesh Really An International Icon?
This link provides information on how Lord Ganesh gained popularity in Indonesia, China, Cambodia, and Mexico. It also features Lord Ganesh’s image on the Indonesian currency.
©Nayna Chakrabarty, 2007. All Rights Reserved.
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