circumambulating

Circumambulation is the act of moving around a sacred object, site, or symbol in a circular or spiral path, typically as part of a ritual or ceremony. The word derives from Latin circum- “around” and ambulare “to walk.” It is used in religious, ceremonial, and sometimes secular contexts to express reverence, devotion, or to sanctify space.

In religious traditions, circumambulation appears in various forms. In Hinduism and Buddhism, practitioners often walk clockwise around deities, temples, stupas, or relics as a devotional practice (in Hinduism this is called pradakshina). In Islam, the tawaf is the ritual circumambulation of the Kaaba performed during Hajj and Umrah, typically in a counterclockwise direction and usually conducted in seven circuits. Some Christian rituals and processions also involve moving around a church or altar, reflecting a symbolic ritually circular engagement with sacred space. The direction, distance, and number of circuits are determined by tradition and context.

Beyond religion, circumambulation can describe any motion that encircles a central point, such as a planet or satellite moving around a larger body in astronomy, or a person moving around a landmark in a ceremonial or ceremonial-like task. The practice often carries symbolic meanings—reverence, meditation, pilgrimage, or the consecration of a place—alongside its physical and communal aspects.