Why Do Hindus Half-Circumambulate a ShivaLingam? 5
Generally, we complete a pradakshina or circumambulation around an
idol in a temple, but in the case of the Shiva lingam, we go around only half
the distance and do not complete the circle. The reason for not doing so is
purely scientific.
The purpose of circumambulation is to receive divine vibrations that flow
out of the deity’s image and enter into our body to benefit us as we go
around it. However, this is true only of celebrated religious places where
regular pujas by enlightened souls and pundits are held in accordance with
the tenets laid down in the holy books. In such cases, the divine vibes flow
out of idols evenly. This phenomenon cannot be claimed in the case of
common or roadside temples where pujas are conducted for the primary aim
of making money and not for spiritual gain. Also, in such temples, the idols
are not ceremoniously installed by conducting a proper prana pratishtha
ritual; therefore, these idols are not vibrant.
Ordinarily, divine energy flows out evenly from the relic, but in the case
of the Shiva lingam, due to its shape, the energy gushes out forcefully from
the outlet of the female part, the yoni, of the idol. To ward off the thrust of
this energy, the correct way to circumambulate a Shiva lingam is to go
around from the left of the yoni and walk up to the right of it and then
return to the left side without crossing the mouth of the yoni. The reason
being that one’s genital area is vulnerable to the channelized flow of the
energy emanating out of that part of the image. There are several types of
vayus or winds in a human body, of which devadatta and dhananjaya are
two winds that are related to our reproductive system. The exposure of
one’s genital to that force of energy can harm the person crossing the mouth
of the yoni, in particular, of male devotees.
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