Circumambulation

A short note on the tradition of Circumambulation

Circumambulation is a practice in all known religions. It is ritualised in Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam.  Religious people circumambulate the idol or temple/Church as part of the ritual. circumambulation can be performed in different ways. Clockwise and anti/counter-clockwise.

According to the Mishnah, the written tradition of the Jews, when one goes to the temple in Jerusalem if he is happy he should go around the temple counterclockwise and clockwise if he is sad due to death or illness of the near ones. (Mishnah, Middot 2:2).

So clockwise is a sign of mourning and counter-clockwise is a sign of positivity in Jewish tradition.

Perhaps due to its influence, going around counter-clockwise is auspicious in Christianity and Islam. Tawaf is a ritual performed by Muslims around the Kaaba in a counter-clockwise direction.

In our Syriac Church also, counter-clockwise is the auspicious sign, and clockwise is the Ominous sign. Going up and down the altar (Madbaha) and blowing incense are all performed clockwise signalling auspicious moments.

On different festivals, the believers go out through the north door and make a counter-clockwise circle, and re-enter through the south door.  

But only on Good Friday as part of mourning, we circumambulate in a clockwise direction. The procession leaves through the South door, turns clockwise and re-enters through the north door.

 Thank you.

circumambulation- പ്രദക്ഷിണം, വലയംവെക്കല.

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Procession Syrian Church