A Prayer During a Pradakshina at a A Hindu Temple

Hindu temple

Aum, Sri Mahaaganaadhipataye Namah

Guidelines for pronunciation are in the footnotes

Cleanliness is an important aspect of Hinduism. While visiting a temple the devotees are expected to remain pure and clean in all aspects of their minds and bodies, thinking and conduct. The following prayer is a cleansing mantra uttered by devout Hindus both for atonement and for self-purification while making pradakshinas around (circumambulating) a Shiva, Vishnu, or any Hindu temple. It is not necessary that you should always utter this prayer when you visit a temple. However knowing it and using it is helpful to stabilize your mind and make your worship effective.

Devaalaya Pradakshina Sthothram

yaanikaanicha paapaani janmaanthara kruthanicha
thaavithaani pranashyanthi pradakshina pade pade
paapoham paapakarmaaham paapaathmaa paapasambhavam
thraahimaam krupayaa deva sharanaagatha-vathsala
anyadha sharanam naasthi thvameva sharanam mama
thasmaathkaarunabhaavena raksha rakha maheshvara (or janardhana, or any deity name)

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Guidelines to pronunciation: Sanskrit is essentially a language of sounds and sound vibrations. The efficacy of Sanskrit prayers depends upon the vibrations that are produced during chanting. It is difficult to transliterate Sanskrit words into English with full justification to the original sounds. In the above stated transliteration we followed a simple approach to make it easier even for those who are not familiar with English or Sanskrit. Wherever you find repeat vowels (aa, uu, ee) please stretch the vowel sound (for ex., aa as in vast or path, uu as in cool or root, ee as in eel or feel). Similarly, "ai" should be pronounced as in gait, fight, or tight. Th should be pronounced as in think or thick, but when t alone is used, it should be pronounced as in two, top or tip.

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