Answers to FAQ's on Sanatana Dharma / Hindu Principles Part 20

FAQ's are nothing but Frequently Asked Questions. Guruji Narendra Babu Sharma give answers to various questions which are asked by the callers in the programme. Also Guruji give us the knowledge on Hindu Sanathana Dharma, which i have put in FAQ Format. Many People have lot of doubts on Hindu Sanathana Dharma, which i have put in FAQ Format.
Please do ask a priest or elders, if you have any doubts in below, who knows very well about our customs and practices and clarify the same.

• How we should do Pradakshina in Lord Shivan Temples?
  
  
  
  
  
  In Shiva temples, the devotees start the Pradakshina as usual from the front and go clockwise till they reach the gomukhi (the outlet for abhisheka water) from the Sanctum Sanctorum. As usual the clockwise perambulation is maintained outside of the Bali stones. The outlet for the ritual ablution offered on the Shiva Linga with water, milk, curd, coconut water, ghee, ashes (bhasma)etc. is not to be crossed. So the worshippers have to return in anti-clockwise direction till they reach the other side of the drainage outlet to complete the circle. During this anti-clockwise perambulation, the devotee should tread a path inside of the Bali stones. The Bali stones are always to be kept the right side of the devotees. After reaching the drainage oulet, they have to return to the front in the clockwise direction keeping the path outside the Bali stones. Thus one Pradakshina is completed.
  If you dont find a bali stone it doesn't matter, make sure you dont cross gomukhi.
  Hence you can see half moon on lord shiva's head.
  I have seen this in Chotanikare bhagavathi amman temple in kerala during my visit.

• How we should do Pradakshina in Lord Shivan Temples, if Lord Shiva is presiding with Goddess Parvathi?
  
  
  
  
  
  If Lord Shiva is presiding with Goddess Parvathi you do one complete pradakshina in clockwise direction.

• Can we do Pradakshina for Guru's like Raghavendra, Sai Baba etc.?
  
  
  
  
  
  No, we should not do pradakshina to Guruji's. We should sit in the temple, close your eyes and do pradakshina from your inner heart.
  You can do yejje namaskara for Guruji's.

• How to do Pradakshina for Lord Ganesha.?
  
  
  
  
  
  Do Pradakshina by rotating yourself in circle for three times (start rotating from right side).
  This type of pradakshina is done only for Lord Ganesha.

• Which type of Namaskara we should do when you visit Lord Anjaneya or Lord Subramanya Swamy Temple?
  
  
  
  
  
  We should do Sashtanga Namaskara in front of the sanctum sanctorum. In Sashtanga Namaskara, the devotees have eight parts of their bodies touching the ground. Thus forehead, chest, shoulders, hands and knees touch the ground. The folded hands will be directed always towards the deity.