What is "parikrama"

n. (context Buddhism Hinduism English) The circumambulation of a sacred place.

Parikrma (Hindi: परिक्रमा) is a rock and roll band from Delhi, India. They have several live performances and original numbers to their name. The band was officially formed on 17 June 1991 in Delhi. The word parikrama means 'orbital revolutions' in Sanskrit.

In its 2014 listing of "25 Greatest Indian Rock Songs of the last 25 Years", " Rolling Stone India" featured But It Rained (Single, 1996) by the band.

Parikrama or Pradakshina refers to circumambulation of sacred places in Hindu, Jain or Buddhist context. Parikrama means "the path surrounding something" in Sanskrit, and is also known as Pradakshina ("to the right"), representing circumambulation. Both words are mostly used in the context of religious deities in a temple, sacred rivers, sacred hills and a close cluster of temples, and "doing a parikrama" as a symbol of prayer is an integral part of Hindu worship.

Most Hindu temple structures include various Pradaksina paths. Pradaksina paths are defined. as:

Circumbulatory or pathway around the shrine of the temples by keeping time is a common form of prayer in India. This pathway made of stone around the shrine is called Pradakshina path.

There could be one surrounding the main deity, other paths could be broader being concentric to the main path. However, it is not uncommon to find non-concentric parikrama paths in a single temple structure. At times the outermost parikrama path covers the whole village/town/city, thereby implying that the length of the path can stretch.

Parikrama is done around sacred fire ( Agni – the fire God), Tulsi plant (Ocimum tenuiflorum) and Peepal tree. Parikrama of Agni or Agni Pradakshina is a part of the Hindu marriage ceremony. Some of the Parikramas are Narmada River, Govardhan hill, Vrindavan, Vraj Mandala, Panchkosi, Lili, Chitrakoot hill, Varanasi, Mathura-Vrindavan Yugalabandi in Kartik .....

Typically, Parikrama is done after the completion of traditional worship (puja) and after paying homage to the deity. Parikrama is supposed to be done with a meditative mood.

• The pathway made of granite stone around the shrine is called the Pradakshina path.

• Pradakshina around the sacred fire is a part of the Hindu marriage ceremony.

Parikrama is also practiced in Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism.

Parikrama is a Hindu religious observance. It may also refer to:

• Parikrama (band), an Indian rock band
• Parikrama (company), an event management company based in New Delhi, India

Parikrama, Inc. is an event management company based in New Delhi, India. It was founded by Delhi-based band Parikrama (band) and is headed by it.