The word PradhakshiNam and the performance of PradhakshiNa KriyA .

[Guest guest]

Dear BhakthAs :

 

Let us look at both Pra and dakshiNam

forming the word , PradakshiNam .

Pra as an adjective means very much .

Pra can also come as a prefix to verbs and

take on the meaning of onward, forward.

 

Onward to DakshiNam or south is pradakshiNam .

When one does that , one's right side is facing

the Moolavar inside the garbhagraham and

the circumambulation is DakshiNAchAram

or auspicous as recommended by the vedam .

Alternatives are VaamAchAram and are taantric

in character.

 

Unaadi soothrAs break up the word DakshiNa into

Daksh+iNan , meaning as being situated in the South .

Dakshina also means sincere, auspicious , dextrous

and the Southern sacred fire (DakshiNAgni , one of

the three VaidhigAgnis ) used in Vedic sacrifices .

Although we can elaborately study the connections

of these different meanings to the auspicious act

of PradkshiNam , we will focus on the Rg Vedic Usage

of the word of pradakshiNam in its second KhANdam .

 

Yajn~yavalkya smruthi defines PradakshiNam as

the act of circumambulation ,where one's right side

is facing the object or person . PradakshiNam around

the fire in Vedic marraiges or PradakshiNam of a sacred

hill like Thirumalai or PerumAL's garbha graham follows

this rule to assure auspiciousness. The opposite is

amangaLam .

 

Coming to the Rg Vedic verses (Rg: 2.42.3 and 2.43.1),

we can see the Vedic context of PradakshiNam .

 

Here Vedhic pasage equates the Jeevan sititng

inside the cage of body as the voice of

inner consciousness and an auspicious one ( BhadravAdhI

sakunthE ). The entire Rk praying to that inner conscience

is (Rg Vedam -2.42.3):

 

ava krandha DAKSHINATHO gruhANaam SUMANGALO BhadravAdhI sakunthE

maa na: sthEna Eesatha maagasamsO bruhaddhEma vidhathE suveerA:

 

(Meaning ):" O Sacred Bird (the voice of inner conscience ) ,

the proclaimer of all that is good , benign and benovolent ,

may you cry(speak) from the right (or south ) of our dwellings

(or hearts). May no thief , no evil doer, prevail against us.

May we , blessed with excellent decendents , worthily praise

you in this assembly of devotees ".

 

The JeevAthmA going around the ParamAthmA in a mood of

reverential salutation and moving from the right to left

and proceeding in a southerly direction is implied here .

 

The next Rk talks specifically about PradakshiNam :

 

PRADAKSHINIDHAPI gruNanthi kAravO

vayO vadhantha rithuthA Sakunthaya:I

ubhE vAchou vadhathi SaamagA iva

Gaayathram cha thraishtubham chAnu rAjathi II..Rg Vedam 2.43.1

 

(meaning ):" May the bird of inner conscience guide us

from time to time proclaiming the CIRCUMAMBULATIONS ,

according to circumstances ,like the chanter of hymns.

The conscience speaks out both the types of hymns like

a saman-singer , having a mastery over the Gaayathri ,

the UshNik , the Thrishtubh and the Jagathi songs ".

 

The pradakhiNam of the Supreme Lord with different

Veda manthrams ( in different metres) and circumambulating

Him in Aathma PradakshiNam and BhAhya PradakshiNams

in a clockwise manner is indicated here.

 

The Vedic prayer as one circumambulates in the manner

prescribed by the VedAs is housed as Rg Veda manthram 3.14.2/

 

ayAmi thE NAMA UKTHIM Jushasva

rithAvasthubhyam chEthanE sahasva:I

vidhvAgum aa vakshi vidhushO ni

shathsi madhya aa barhir uthayE yajathra II

 

(meaning):" To You Oh adorable Lord ,the sustainer

of eternal laws , I offer my reverential salutations.

Oh possessor of strength , expounder of ceremony ,may You

accept them ; and wise as You are , may You bring men of

wisdom here. Oh Pious One ! May You enshrine hearts of

devotees for (their) protection ".

 

" Nama Ukthi " here is SaraNAgathi . With anjali mudrA ,

One performs pradakshiNam around the Lord with the face

and mind turned towards Him , while remembering His

strength , apAra KaaruNyam ,unfathomable dayA and

beseech Him to bless us with Bhaagavatha sambhnadham .

 

The other rks of this section go on further to

describe the mind set of one offering salutations to

the Lord , while doing PradakshiNams :

 

" with uplifted hands , approaching You with

reverence , we present to You today our deep

devotion....May You , Oh immortal Lord , cherish

and bless every one , who is worthily virtuous."

 

Subhamasthu ,Vedha PurushAya nama:

Daasan , V.Sadagopan