circumambulations

Circumambulation is the act of moving around something in a circular path, typically as a sign of reverence or ritual focus. The term derives from Latin circum- “around” and ambulation “walking.”

In religious and spiritual traditions, circumambulation is a common ritual action. In Hinduism, prati- or pradakshina refers to walking around a deity, temple, or sacred site, usually in a clockwise direction, accompanied by prayers or mantras. In Buddhism, followers circumambulate stupas, images, or relics as a meditative practice intended to honor the object and cultivate merit. Jainism likewise incorporates circumambulation around sacred images or temples. In Islam, the tawaf is the seven-circle ritual around the Kaaba in Mecca, performed during Hajj and Umrah and typically conducted in a counterclockwise direction.

Outside strictly religious contexts, circumambulation can describe the motion of any object around a center. In astronomy and physics, it refers to moving around a central body or reference point, such as a planet or moon orbiting a star or planet. In archaeology and architecture, the term may describe the act of walking around a monument or sacred precinct, either as part of a ceremony or as a reflective practice.

Variations in practice occur across cultures, including the number of circuits, the direction of movement, accompanying actions (offerings, prayers, or chants), and the overall purpose—devotional focus, merit accumulation, ritual purification, or symbolic devotion. Circumambulation thus encompasses both ceremonial movements around sacred centers and the general idea of circular motion around a focal point.